Business Spotlight: TS Staging and Design

Based upon expert opinion, as interest rates continue to fall and the real estate market is poised to become red-hot again, sellers seeking a competitive edge and new homeowners looking to put their own stamp on a new place have creative local experts available to help. TS Staging and Design offers expert assistance to homeowners and may just turn out to be the best investment they’ve ever considered.

The TS Staging and Design team includes, from
left, Designer Amber Bouchard, Owner and
Co-Founder Theresa Bouchard, and 
Co-Founder and Lead Designer Stephanie
Eklund. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

TS Staging and Design provides an array of helpful services ranging from home staging to interior redesign, color consultation and Airbnb design. Company Owner and Co-Founder Theresa Bouchard, Co-Founder and Lead Designer Stephanie Eklund and Designer Amber Bouchard channel their creativity and use it to turn spaces beautiful through color, design, décor accessories, and proper room arrangement.

“Professional home staging is the primary part of TS Staging and Design. We also offer interior design for homeowners that wish to make changes to their existing home or investment properties and homeowners that have recently purchased a new home and want to make it their own with updates,” Theresa Bouchard said. “We believe all homeowners should have the opportunity to stage their homes to make them shine above the rest. Therefore, we offer packages that will fit any budget. Our priority at TS Staging and Design is to develop long-lasting professional relationships, superior customer service and curate designs to attract buyers or make homeowners fall in love with their homes again.”

Serving all Southern Maine, TS Staging and Design is excited to announce that it has purchased a new warehouse at 630 Roosevelt Trail in Windham and will hold its Grand Opening there in January 2025 celebrating the four-year anniversary of the company. The new facility will help the company continue to grow and improve services. It also has partnered with a local company, All-Haul Junk Removal and Recycling, to become their exclusive movers.

“It really puts us on a different level,” Bouchard said. “And it helps us tremendously to create designs that tell a story and attract buyers to all the properties we stage.”

Bouchard said with the real estate market predictions for the months ahead, staging can make a significant difference for homeowners which will help them sell their home fast with a financial award.

“According to the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA), staged homes can sell for up to 15 percent more than non-staged homes,” she said. “The investment in professional staging can yield significant returns for sellers in terms of final sale price. Over 85 percent of staged homes sell for their asking price or above, according to RESA.”

If that wasn’t enough incentive, a report issued earlier this year by the National Association of REALTORS® more than 82 percent of buyer’s agents said that staging helped their clients to better visualize the property as their future home.

“Staging gives buyers the emotional connection needed to envision how they would live in the space,” Bouchard said. “In this competitive real estate market, staging is essential. Staging is an investment, and statistics say the Return on Investment can be from 5 to 20 percent and 41 percent of buyers are more willing to tour a home in person after viewing staged photos they saw online.”

Working with real estate agents and sellers directly, TS Staging and Design stages spaces in homes for professional photos, open houses, and work with both occupied and vacant spaces. Residents looking to refresh their homes use TS Staging and Design for interior redesign expertise such as room layout and décor guidance based upon a client’s requirements and design aesthetic. TS Staging and Design also provides clients with a detailed proposal that includes their recommendations based on the discussion during the client consultation and an estimated cost of the project. They offer shopping services and all the final touches to make a client’s house a home.

“The homes we stage sell within days of being on the market,” Bouchard said. “Buyers often ask to purchase the staged home ‘as is’ which is a great complement to our work. We use beautiful furnishings and decor that are on trend. We offer excellent customer service and are approachable and friendly. Our designs tell a story and attract buyers to all the properties we stage.”

Bouchard said TS Staging and Design excels in building strong professional relationships with clients and listens to a client’s ideas while offering their expert advice to enhance their goals.

“Our small team loves what we do, and it shows in our work,” she said.

For more information about TS Staging and Design, visit www.TSstaginganddesign.com or call 207-400-9393. Find them on Facebook and Instagram at TS Staging and Design. <

Business Spotlight: Lake House Tavern

After creating a sensation with many successful restaurants and taverns over the years, Bob and Paula Coppersmith have opened Lake House Tavern in Windham and it’s rapidly becoming a go-to place for great food, fun and a cozy atmosphere in town.

Lake House Tavern is owned and operated
by Bob and Paula Coppersmith and 
strives to provide delicious fresh
meals at affordable prices and 
friendly and courteous service.
COURTESY PHOTO   

Located at 907 Roosevelt Trail, Lake House Tavern is a full-service restaurant, with meals to eat in or take out, and it also features a 14-seat full bar with ice cold beer, draft, cans, bottles, along with wine and cocktails.

“We offer a nice cozy friendly restaurant/tavern,” Coppersmith said. “It’s a place to come to and be able to chat with friends and neighbors and all others, kind of like Cheers. Prices are very competitive, and we have lowered prices on a lot of menu items especially the seafood. We strive to have the best quality food and the best service around.”

The menu focuses on the true essence of American cuisine. Whether you're in the mood for hearty sandwiches, fresh salads, or their signature Maine dishes, the Lake House Tavern menu is crafted to delight every palate. There are fried seafood favorites such as Haddock, Scallops, Clams, Shrimp and Crab Cakes, an array of popular sandwiches like Meatball Subs, Burgers, Chicken Club, Pastrami and their delicious Lobster Rolls. For dinner they offer Seafood Linguini, Chicken Parmesan, Steak, Pasta and Meatballs, and Blackened or Baked Haddock, among others.

“We offer the freshest of the fresh. We keep our overhead low so we can pass the savings on to our customers,” Coppersmith said. “We have a nice friendly staff, and the owners are always involved to make sure everything is going good, and customers are happy.”

The tavern has a nice variety of wine and mixed drinks and offers a range of weekday $5.00 specials including Margarita Monday, Ice Pik Tuesday, Wine Down Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday. Happy Hour is daily from 2 to 5 p.m.

Bob Coppersmith started lobstering with his brother, Bill Coppersmith, in the late 1970s. He went on to work at his brother Bill’s Fishermen’s Net Seafood Market on Forest Avenue in Portland and they later added a Fishermen’s Catch location in Raymond which Bill’s son Billy operates now.

Bob left to launch Bob’s Seafood around 2001 in Windham and that’s when his wife Paula got involved in the business. They had that business for about 10 years before selling when an opportunity arose to open Docks Seafood in South Portland. They operated that business for about eight years with a Docks Boathouse in Biddeford selling and cooking the freshest of the fresh seafood available.

They sold Docks Seafood in South Portland to one of their employees and it is still open today. When they sold Docks, Bob and Paula opened Coppersmith Tavern and Table on Route One in South Portland. That’s where they created a nice family friendly Cheers-like tavern and restaurant, selling it in November 2023. The opportunity arose to buy Franco’s Bistro and open Lake House Tavern in Windham, and the rest is history.

“Windham is what we call home. We have lived in Windham for 20-plus years with lots of family and friends that live here and have businesses here. We have family and friends that work here at the tavern and help out,” Coppersmith said. “We plan on staying here for a long time and making and creating a nice place for all to come and enjoy the best that Maine can give.”

Lunch specials are available at 11 a.m. daily and when summer comes around, owners are planning on adding an outside deck.

Online reviews are incredible.

“Finally got a chance to go in and see what everyone has been raving about. The tavern did not disappoint! Appetizers, the meal, drinks and service were all great. Definitely a welcome addition to the local area. Definitely going to be one of our new go-to spots.” ~ Brian Lawrence

“Great atmosphere and great food. It was quick to come out and was delicious. We had fried clams and crabmeat rolls and fries. Will definitely be back soon!!!”~ Donna Clark Kenison

“Great food and atmosphere.” ~ Ralph Gallagher

“I've been in a few times now, and the food has been excellent. I keep going back to the haddock sandwich, a generous portion of fish cooked perfectly with a light breading on a nice fresh bun with fries, it's hard to be. The Brussels sprouts and meatball apps that they have on the menu are so good!”~ Joe Mains

To learn more about Lake House Tavern, call 207-894-3020 or visit them online at www.lakehousetavernwindham.com. Follow them on Facebook under Lake House Tavern. <

Business Spotlight: Casco Bay Cremation Services

Caring for grieving families and a commitment to providing everyone with a lasting tribute to loved ones when a death occurs is the mission of Casco Bay Cremation Services.

Jeffrey Dobson owns and 
operates Casco Bay Cremation
Services and offers affordable
funeral services for families.
COURTESY PHOTO 

From its location at 68 Bishop St. in Portland, Casco Bay Cremation serves all Southern Maine from Lewiston to Kittery. The company is owned and operated by veteran funeral professional Jeffrey Dobson.

It provides funeral services and specializes in cremation services while also offering urns and other lasting memorial products. Its staff are highly experienced in arranging funeral services and can help families celebrate loved ones no matter what their religion, culture, or budget.

Because the company is locally owned and operated with no outside shareholders, Dobson has been able to keep costs low and affordable for the families who work with Casco Bay Cremation Services.

“For the level of service, we provide and for a provider that meets families in person or remotely, and also for a provider who provides the family with an urn for no additional cost, we are currently the most affordable in the Greater Portland Area,” Dobson said.

Casco Bay Cremation Services is the only provider that offers in-person meetings, and it also provides a basic wood urn or scatter urn for no additional cost and arrangements can be accomplished remotely or in-person for no additional charges.

Dobson has been a funeral professional for more than 15 years and he started working in Portland at a funeral home assisting the funeral directors there. That led him to go back to school to obtain his mortuary science degree.

“I personally spent six years working in the Portland area at a local funeral home before deciding to open my own funeral home in Arundel,” he said. “I recently noticed the cost in the Portland area increasing and wanted to use my ability to offer families an option that provides dignified and professional cremation services without those high costs, so in September, I opened Casco Bay Cremation Services.”

According to Dobson, a funeral professional is essential because they help families navigate the complex process of planning a funeral or memorial service for their loved one. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in areas such as arranging for cremations, obtaining necessary permits and certificates, and coordinating with other professionals involved in the funeral process. Additionally, he said they can help families make important decisions and provide emotional support during a most challenging time.

“We are truly family owned and locally operated. We have spent our entire life growing up and attending local schools,” Dobson said. “We don’t answer to outside investors, we answer only to the families that entrust their loved ones to our care. These families are truly our investors. We offer services of a full-service funeral home at a much more affordable cost. We do not sacrifice a high level of service for a lower cost. We believe a family should obtain the same professional services without the higher cost.”

For area families, it’s comforting to know that Casco Bay Cremation Services is available to help at any time of the day or night. When a loved one dies, all you need to do is make one phone call and from that moment on, they will take on the responsibilities of the physical care of your loved one, and the emotional care of those left behind.

Dobson said that he understands that everyone he serves has experienced a loss and comes to him looking for compassion, honesty and peace of mind.

“We want people to know that we provide the highest quality and dignified services while also offering the most affordable cost,” he said. “The quality of the services we offer is of the highest importance to area families and they will never sacrifice quality and compassion. The cost of the services should never be a factor in the quality of the services that a family receives. We are proud and honored to serve our community in a way that allows us to offer compassionate pricing and caring services.”

For more information about Casco Bay Cremation Services, call 207-747-8240 or visit them online at www.cascobaycremation.com. Find them on Facebook under Casco Bay Cremation Services. <

Business Spotlight: Octagon Cleaning and Restoration

When disaster strikes, it can be a confusing and difficult time trying to figure out how to properly restore your home or commercial property. You can feel confident calling upon Octagon Cleaning and Restoration to be of assistance in turning things around.

The Octagon Cleaning and Restoration Team stands ready 
to help restore your home or commercial property 
following a fire or natural disaster. COURTESY PHOTO

Located at 12 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, Octagon’s team of IICRC-certified and experienced professionals help take the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of your unfortunate situation and return your life to normal as quickly as possible.

Octagon offers catastrophic storm damage solutions including addressing water damage restoration, mold removal, asbestos abatement, lead removal, fire and smoke damage, and it provides air duct cleaning for commercial properties. The company services Portland, Southern Maine, Western Maine, and Central Maine from its main office in Windham, and also has locations in Fairfield, Maine and in Barrington and Meredith, New Hampshire.

Robert York launched Maine Cleaning Services in 2002 and cleaned floors for local businesses. He quickly realized the need for restoration services as many businesses turned to him for answers when these disasters occurred. He became educated about restoration and remediation services and the company was transformed into Octagon Cleaning and Restoration and now has 50 employees.

York is a Maine-licensed master pesticide applicator for mold and bacterial treatments, an EPA-certified Lead Safe Renovator, certified in applied microbial remediation (mold remediation), water damage restoration, fire and smoke damage, and applied structural drying. He is also board certified for CMRS (Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor) and a CIEC (Council-certified Indoor Environment Consultant).

“We are a locally owned family business. We are not a national chain or franchise,” said Robin Mullins, Marketing & Relationship Manager for Octagon Cleaning and Restoration. “Through our Octagon Gives Back program, we actively support our local communities by sponsoring youth programs and participating in chambers of commerce. We participate in community events like Trunk or Treats and ensure community members in need receive necessary restoration services. We also offer a five-year Workmanship Guarantee on water damage restoration and mold remediation projects, so clients can rest assured we will get the job right the first time.”

Mullins said Octagon’s experienced project managers will come and do a free initial site inspection for all projects and from that they will provide an objective and honest assessment of the scope of work needed.

“The most important thing to remember when disaster occurs is to move quickly to get the work done ASAP,” she said. “This will save both time and money. It's important to know who to call before disaster occurs.”

According to Mullins, Octagon technicians care about protecting the environment in performing their duties and use integrated electric vehicles in their fleet and solar power to offset their energy bills. They also deeply understand that disasters can be bewildering and overwhelming.

“Even though we face disasters every day, we know these events are devastating to our clients. That is why we offer a comprehensive service that puts our client firmly in control of their restoration journey,” she said. “With our swift and efficient response, we are always there to guide, communicate and answer questions throughout the entire process. After remediation, we’ll work with customers to determine what repairs are necessary to restore a property to its pre-damage condition. This could mean partnering with our sister company Octagon Construction & Energy for minor repairs, such as drywall replacement, or major reconstruction. Either way, our goal is to make your home or business look as if the damage never occurred.”

Through the years, Octagon Cleaning and Restoration has earned the trust of property owners, home inspectors, realtors, and a variety of building contractors in Maine and New Hampshire. They are A-plus rated by the Better Business Bureau and have hundreds of 5-Star reviews on Google.

Some of those reviews include:

“Octagon told me what they were going to do and when. They did what they said on time and within the estimated cost. The people were friendly and helpful. I would use Octagon again and have recommended them to my neighbors.” Doug Sax

“We used Octagon a few years back for an asbestos job that we had at our home. They were absolutely wonderful and easy to work with. The quote they gave us was reasonable and they even dealt with a few other areas that were found at no extra cost. We would recommend them to everyone!” Alexandra Carlson

“I had a great experience with Octagon when I was dealing with water damage in my kitchen! They make sure that it is being done correctly all through the process. Would use them again!” Brianna Palmer

The company is open 24 hours a day. Call for immediate assistance at 207-893-0002 or visit them online at https://octagonrestoration.com/. Find them on Facebook under Octagon Cleaning and Restoration. <

Business Spotlight: Backwoods Burger Shack and Pasketti's

Backwoods Burger Shack may be new to the scene, but it won’t remain a secret for very long.

It offers tempting specialty burgers made fresh daily, local potatoes, cheese and produce, southern-style fried chicken tenders, sandwiches, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks and milkshakes. There are hand-cut fries, to-die-for onion rings, inventive salads, and more, and it’s all helping Backwoods rapidly develop a loyal and devoted following.

Backwoods Bruger Shack is now home to Pasketti's Family
Style Italian take-out. They are located at the Route 202
and 237 rotary just over the South Windham line in
Gorham. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Located at 680 Gray Road in the former Sweets & Eats location in Gorham, Backwoods Burger Shack is owned and operated by Rick Boyd and his wife Tatiana and strives to provide quality in every bite and at prices everyone can afford.

All sauces are created in-house and the beef for the burgers is ground daily.

“We’re not a chain restaurant,” Boyd said. “We’re able to offer a quality product at a great value and we care about the community and try to be active in the community and make where we live a little better.”

Along with burgers, Boyd also operates a companion business at the Backwoods site called Pasketti’s, and it’s intended for families looking for a healthier, convenient, and affordable meal to take home or have delivered in Gorham, Windham or Westbrook.

“Pasketti’s is a take-out and delivery-only concept we just launched to give people in the area a comforting, fresh, healthy and inexpensive dinner option,” he said. “We offer take-out spaghetti dinners, salads and garlic toast featuring scratch-made marinara and Bolognese sauce. Our goal is to provide our customers with fresh, healthy and affordable dinner. Value is critical, so you can feed a family of six to eight people for $35, and it’s not junk food. Our fast and delicious take-out Italian dinners are exactly what busy families need.”

Boyd opened Backwoods Burger Shack in June but he’s no newcomer to the restaurant business.

“I’ve been in the industry since I was 13, so around 40 years,” he said. “I opened my first restaurant in Boise, Idaho in 2008 and grew that to five and a brewery before selling them to move to Lake Tahoe. We had two restaurants in Lake Tahoe, and with one under construction when COVID and the 2022 wildfires happened. We decided then to sell and move to Maine where it doesn’t catch on fire.”

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and welcoming.

“Impressive would be an understatement. Camp Smoke burger was top notch and came out in seconds. And the milkshake was hands down the best around. Must Go!” Alex Y.

“What a great new addition to the area. We all had outstanding burgers and tons of fries and cool drinks. Service was super friendly and welcoming. Sat outside at a picnic table and the whole vibe of it was super cool.” Jen L.

“This place is bomb!!! So tasty, and the onion rings were awesome! Try everything, it's from scratch.” Heather R.

What makes Backwoods Burger Shack stand out from the competition is its friendliness, Boyd said.

“We have tremendous respect for the other restaurants in the area, but I would say our attitude sets us apart,” he said. “We try to include everyone in the conversation, so our social media presence is very friendly, and we try to be informative and supportive of everything that is going on around us. We try to make a personal interaction with everyone who stops in. We chose to be a part of this community after leaving Lake Tahoe and moving east. We love living here and we’re doing our best to bring new and exciting things to our new neighbors.”

Backwoods Burger Shack and Pasketti’s are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

To see the menu or order ahead online with a hassle-free user-friendly platform, visit www.backwoodsburger.me or https://www.paskettis.com/ <