Business Spotlight: Sticky Bud Farms

The reward of helping people feel better from many different conditions through cannabis is what drives Sticky Bud Farms to treat each customer with integrity and compassion and share their expertise and knowledge with those in pain and suffering.

Located at 815 Roosevelt Trail Unit 4 in North Windham, Sticky Bud Farms and Sticky Bud Farms Glass and Wellness provide many valuable services to promote wellness.

Offering the utmost in courteous customer service, competitive pricing and a large selection of medical cannabis products, Sticky Bud Farms serves individuals locally and from throughout New England with a valid medical card and identification. And in treating people so well, they were voted as the Best Medical Dispensary in New England for 2021.

 

“We listen to the individual patient, and we offer guidance in the use of cannabis products,” said Dave Whitten, Sticky Bud Farms owner. “For example, we offer flower, oils, salves, and edibles as well as custom tinctures for each individual’s need and we offer consultations. Our biggest reward is someone coming in for a few months on a walker in severe pain and you get to see a transformation and the relief they’ve experienced. That’s what it’s truly all about for me.”

 

Now in a newly remodeled and beautiful facility, Sticky Bud Farms features a full line of glass and electronics with an exclusive oxygen bar with aroma therapy to help individuals feel better. Their new shop includes three full stations to assist patients, a video menu system and an ATM.

 

Dave Whitten, owner of sticky Bud Farms, 
received the honor of being awarded 'Best
Medical Dispensary' for all of New England in
2021 by NECANN. Visit their new shop for
top shelf cannabis products and unmatched
customer service and knowledge in the
industry. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

“What separates us from the others is our amazing customer service,” Whitten said. “There is a true difference as we take an interest in each and every patient individually. We are here to help and educate people on the use of cannabis.”

 

Medical cards are available at Sticky Bud Farms for as little as $29 and valuable discounts are offered for veterans and first-time customers, along with an array of daily discounts and specials.

 

Whitten knows first-hand how debilitating pain and suffering can be and he was able to overcome that through cannabis. It changed his life, and he firmly believes that cannabis can alleviate the pain of others too and that’s why he established Sticky Bud Farms in the area in 2013.

 

“I gave my life to being a medical cannabis caregiver and it gave me a life back,” Whitten said. “I was in pain for years but once I started using cannabis my life turned around.”

 

Sticky Bud Farms became the first cannabis shop in North Windham in 2017 and currently has eight employees, including Whitten’s wife, Judy, whom he credits for her steadfast support of his desire to help others overcome their pain.

 

“We truly value our patients over profits and that is why we take the time to sit down with every patient to learn about their specific needs and make sure that they find the right product to suit their unique needs,” Whitten said. “We believe that our compassion and medical cannabis can help heal many ailments in our world today.”

 

The business continues to explore new and unique ways to provide healing and relief to its customers and is currently building a new kitchen to produce a full line of fresh-baked edibles for customers. The new Sticky Bud Farms facility also plans to offer reiki, acupuncture, and massages once completed.

 

“Our goal is to offer a whole holistic approach to feeling better,” Whitten said. “We travel to many conventions learning and seeing all of the new and innovated products. We go to symposiums and seminars to keep up on the new breakthroughs in this business.” 

 

For Whitten, his approach to operating a successful business is basic.

 

“We offer superb products at a reasonable price and treat everyone as we would want to be treated,” he said. We do it with education, integrity, honesty, compassion, faith, charity, and love. We feel our medical approach is much different from anything else out there. We provide sound and honest advice, and we want our customers to leave here happy.”

 

For more information about Sticky Bud Farms, call 207-893-8200 or visit them online at www.stickybudfarms.com. They are also on Facebook, Instagram and Leafly. < 

Business Spotlight: Sebago Primary Eye Care Services (SPECS)

Sebago Primary Eye Care Services (SPECS), located in the heart of Maine’s beautiful Sebago Lakes Region, has been making your vision and eye care health their passion since 1975. Their dedicated team of professionals offer complete optical services in two locations, one in Casco at 195 Roosevelt Trail and the other in Bridgton at 5 Lumberyard Drive in the plaza next to McDonalds. 

SPECS has become a leading choice for superior vision care for patients all over the region, not only for their personal service, but because their optometric experts stay up to date with the latest advances in medicine and technology to ensure precise diagnoses and optimal treatments for patients of all ages.

“The best thing about what we do is working with people,” said Dr. Thomas Gordon, owner of SPECS. “Everyone is different, and everyone has a different story. Even if their eyes are exactly the same, finding out what exactly works best for them is what we do the best here.”

In August, SPECS welcomed Brenna Gerchman, O.D. to the practice. "She provides a great blend of top-notch clinical education and knowledge with a strong passion for providing community-based care. I also expect that she will be an active member of the community and that will be evident over the course of the months and years to come," said Dr. Gordon.

The doctors at SPECS specialize in examining, diagnosing, treating, and managing eye-related disorders, diseases, complications and injuries. Patients from ages 3 months to 100 can count on SPECS, PA to be their primary care doctors for their eyes.

They offer early detection of vision problems and can determine the best course of action for eye concerns, such as whether an individual needs to wear eyeglasses, or update an existing eye prescription. Preventing blindness and counteracting eye diseases and disorders is a significant responsibility, but it’s a mission that Dr. Gordon, Dr. Gerchman, and the staff at SPECS are passionate about.

“We work very hard to maintain the best possible care for our patients, working with our patients to maintain a high level of satisfaction,” Gordon said. “We can’t fix everything, but we work very hard at it. Primary eye care is like being a gatekeeper for an individual’s health and if we can’t resolve an issue, we can get them the resources for those who can help them.”

SPECS offers annual eye examinations for those with diabetes to prevent destructive eye damage and can refer patients to an ophthalmologist for more significant cases and treatment requirements such as surgery.  They can also help with issues such as dry eye, red, pink or sore eyes and specialize in pediatric eye exams. Early identification of vision problems and overall eye health is crucial. It is recommended that you have your kids’ eyes checked before entering first grade, unless you have a suspicion of issues before that.

“An exciting part of our profession is the continually evolving technology used in eye care,” Gordon said. “There are always new things to learn in order to stay current. Eye strain from computer use, and associated symptoms from overuse has been increasing.”

The team of 12 at SPECS strives to make everyone feel welcome at their practice. “Our key principle for a successful business is to treat everyone who walks in through our doors the way I myself would want to be treated,” Dr. Gordon said. “We try hard to do that with each and every patient and it’s an essential element for all of us in this business.”

SPECS is devoted to quality care, attentive service and the latest in products at highly competitive prices. The optical department rotates a variety of deals and packages, and with over 800-plus frames between both offices along with a wide range of contact lenses, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your your needs. Anyone can visit SPECS optical department with a current prescription without an appointment or to take advantage of their onsite optical repairs.

Even if you don’t think you have vision problems, it is still a good idea to have frequent eye exams. The eye provides a clear view of blood vessels which can tell a lot about your general health. New patients are welcome and they accept most insurances, so call today for an appointment to ensure your eye health. Call 207-655-2020 for Casco or 207-647-5936 for Bridgton. Also visit www.specs4me.com for more information. <

Business spotlight: CeCe’s Diner and Bar LLC

In a way, visiting the new CeCe’s Diner on the town line between Windham and Westbrook on Route 302 is sort of like a homecoming of sorts. The family restaurant has officially opened on the site of the old Charlie’s Diner and is owned by longtime Charlie’s waitress Deanna Gaudreau.   

CeCe’s is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday thru Sunday and serves breakfast and lunch Wednesday thru Saturday with breakfast only on Sunday. 

Gaudreau says some of the top menu items are their tasty breakfast bowls, sausage gravy and biscuits, and Eggs Benedicts. 

“In my opinion the specialty items are our breakfast bowls, our fresh no antibiotic-ever chicken sandwiches that can be grilled or fried, our hand-cut red skinned potatoes, our fresh USDA certified burgers and homemade corned beef hash,” she said. 

According to Gaudreau, the new CeCe’s Diner has a wonderful staff and offers a family friendly environment where smiles, our customers and fun are of utmost importance in everything that they do.

“We promise to provide the freshest, best quality food that we possibly can with the best service we can provide,” she said.

Opening the restaurant is the culmination of a dream for Gaudreau and her family.

“I have worked in restaurants since I was 14 and there is nothing that I would rather be doing. Waitressing and bartending runs through my veins and I have a major passion for it,” she said. “We have a large family, and our customers may see a few too many of them at any given time. We want our diner/bar to be the local Cheers that everyone wants to come to and when they do, they feel like family and friends. We have an amazing staff on hand and each one of us are thrilled to be working together to see this dream come true.”

Deanna Gaudreau and her family own and operate
the new CeCe's Diner and Bar LLC at the site of 
the old Charlie's Diner on the Westbrook and
Windham town line. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Offering competitive pricing, Gaudreau said she rates the quality of the food at CeCe’s as excellent.

“The standards we set for ourselves are above and beyond what even our customers expect from us I believe. We have a certain presentation that we even expect our plates to come out looking like,” she said. “So far, the feedback that we have received has been awesome and we are very grateful. Even though we strive not to, I’m sure we’ll run into some snags along the way, but that’s how we learn to better ourselves.”

But above all else, Gaudreau and the CeCe’s staff consider courteous and friendly service to be paramount.

“The best thing about operating a restaurant is certainly our customers,” Gaudreau said. “They are everything and if they are happy, enjoy some good quality food we serve, and they feel like they are family, they’ll want to come back.”

The CeCe’s staff numbers about 10 including Gaudreau’s children and many of them are family members, which enhances the family aspect of the business.

Gaudreau said plans for the restaurant include offering liquor as soon as they get cleared for their license, which is in the works.

“Customers can come in and enjoy a Mimosa, Bloody Mary, or beer with their breakfast or a beer or other adult beverages with their lunch. We have discussed opening Mondays and possibly adding in some dinner hours on Fridays and Saturdays or Saturdays and Sundays, all of which are still in discussion at this point and not set in stone,” she said. “We have to work out staffing and some rearranging of our space to make it all work. When we set some new times and changes, we will be sure to let our customers know. We are also planning on not stopping with just one location, we would like to see at least a second location happen, maybe more of a bar style with lunch and dinner and breakfast offered only on the weekends. The future is wide open with endless possibilities.”

For convenience, CeCe’s Diner and Bar does offer takeout meals or individuals may even enjoy coming in and grabbing takeout and sitting outside at the couple of picnic tables they’ve provided while the weather is nice for the fall months. The phone number for takeout is 207-887-9656.     

Located at 1557 Bridgton Road in Westbrook, find CeCe’s Diner and Bar LLC on Facebook page or call them at 207-887-9656. < 

Business Spotlight: The Bibliophile Bookshop & Coffeehouse, LLC

British author David Almond has said that a great bookstore is about more than selling books, rather it’s a community gathering spot that makes a difference in people’s lives. The Bibliophile Bookshop & Coffeehouse, LLC in Raymond is certainly striving to reach that lofty ambition. 

Located at 1233 Roosevelt Trail #14 next to Beacon Pizza in the Raymond Shopping Plaza, The Bibliophile Bookshop & Coffeehouse, LLC is an independent bookstore committed to offering a unique literary experience with new and used books, a full coffeehouse, literary-themed dinners, writing workshops, children’s events and more.

Owner Jessica Thompson-McCombs says that what separates The Bibliophile Bookshop & Coffeehouse, LLC from other Maine bookstores is its unique mixture of culture and cuisine. 

“We offer the only literary-themed dinners anywhere and a truly unique community-oriented literary experience through our events, staff involvement, storytime, etc.,” Thompson-McCombs said. “At the core of our business is building relationships within the community and encouraging literacy.”

From the moment customers enter the store, they are greeted with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a locally based roaster, along with an array of books carefully selected by The Bibliophile’s knowledgeable staff, and the ambiance of a warm and welcoming gathering place.

“The best thing about what we do is we bring the community together and offer a place to get together, have a coffee, and dig through books,” Thompson-McCombs said. “It’s a unique literary experience for the senses. We buy and sell used books. We want to make it affordable for our customers to keep reading.”

She said that the biggest challenge the store has faced in a little more than a month in operation is simply letting people know they are there and open for everyone.

“We are focused on creating, building, and maintaining relationships with each and every customer. We are passionate about the written word and seek to encourage and sustain a community of lifelong readers,” Thompson-McCombs said. “We support other local businesses and love to partner with them. Our baked goods are from The Village Donut Shop & Bakery and our coffee is from Coffee by Design. We source as many local ingredients as possible for our literary dinners.” 

Prices are competitive and they offer an array of discounts ranging from educators, military, senior citizens and more.

“We want everyone to know that we’re a local, family-owned bookstore,” Thompson-McCombs said. “We do so many unique things here. We’re also event-driven with writing groups, book discussions and so much more for everyone, no matter the age. I like to think of it as culture, cuisine and community.”

Although they do not have every book that’s ever been printed, The Bibilophile Bookstore & Coffeehouse, LLC specializes in finding special orders for customers online and can typically have it in store within five days at the most.         

According to Thompson-McCombs, the business sources and seeks out only the highest quality of products to offer to their customers.

“From the coffee they sip, to the books they read, we handpick each and every product,” she said. “We thoughtfully chose Coffee By Design because of who they are, what they represent, their involvement with the community and how absolutely delicious every drop of their coffee tastes.” 

And making a difference through knowing customers is at the heart of everything that employees of The Bibliophile Bookstore & Coffeehouse, LLC is all about.

“We are here to create and build relationships with the community,” Thompson-McCombs said. “We really want this to be a place where we know you and we really want to have a relationship with you. We carry a large selection of Maine authors. On our shelves you will find the latest New York Times best sellers and the finest children’s books. There’s truly something for everyone here.”

Customers who have visited the store have become devoted fans.

“I love this bookstore! It is adorable and the owner was very friendly! Definitely recommend to everyone looking to pick up a book,” Emma Ward posted on Facebook.

“Best coffee in the whole area, hands down and the owners and staff are super welcoming and friendly,” Adam Davis posted on Facebook. “I’ve been waiting for a place like this for a long time.” 

For more information about The Bibliophile Bookstore & Coffeehouse, LLC, visit their website at www.bibliophilemaine.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bibliophilebookshopmaine. <