Business Spotlight: G45 Strength & Conditioning

Achieving personal health and fitness involves more than simple diet and exercise, it takes motivation and the dedicated support of a knowledgeable professional who understands you, and your needs, goals, and limitations. That’s exactly what G45 Strength & Conditioning does, and its personalized services help individuals build functional strength, improve mobility, and enhance overall wellness.

Gary Colello, a Certified Strength and
Conditioning specialist through the 
National Strength and Conditioning
Association, as well as a Certified  
Nutrition Coach, Certified Wellness
Coach, and Youth Exercise Specialist,
operates G45 Strength & Conditioning
serving the Lakes Region of Maine
and beyond. SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Located at 4 South High St. in Bridgton, G45 Strength& Conditioning is owned and operated by Gary Colello, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach, Certified Wellness Coach, and Youth Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

With G45 Strength & Conditioning, Colello offers Small Group Fitness Classes; Personal Coaching; Group Coaching; Virtual Coaching; Nutrition Coaching; Wellness Coaching; Athletic Performance Training for all sports; and Corporate Wellness. It services the Lakes Region of Maine, North Conway area, Oxford Hills, the Windham/Raymond area, and can work with anyone anywhere virtually.

“G45 is built around functional fitness and long-term wellness, not just aesthetics,” he said. “The core philosophy is to help people move better, prevent injuries, and build confidence for everyday life.”

Colello says every program that G45 Strength & Conditioning creates is designed to:

Function First: Workouts mimic real-world movements – pushing, pulling, lifting, rotating, balancing.

Strength with Purpose: Training for life, not just looks.

Mobility as Power: Joint health and movement quality are prioritized.

Scalable for Every Body: Programs adapt for beginners, athletes, or those returning from injury.

Community & Coaching: Expert guidance and accountability in a supportive environment.

“The focus is on creating sessions that mimic real-world movements, ensuring clients not only look strong but feel strong and capable in daily activities,” Colello said. “Every program is designed to be scalable, making it suitable for beginners, seasoned athletes, and those returning from injury. Beyond workouts, G45 emphasizes injury prevention, joint health, and confidence through expert coaching and a supportive community.”

According to Colello, he prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring proper technique, safety, and sustainable progress.

“This isn’t about quick fixes or trends – it’s about creating a program that fits your lifestyle and delivers real, lasting benefits,” he said. “When you train here, you’re not just another member – you get direct guidance and accountability from me every step of the way. We help people find their way in health and fitness and find a path that’s best for them.”

Pricing varies but the most popular plan is our G45 Strength & Conditioning’s fitness class membership. Customers can choose between 4 and 24 classes per month, and cost of the membership is between $10 and $13 per class based on the number of times you sign up to come to class. The drop-in rate is $15 and Colello says G45’s personal and group training, nutrition and wellness plans vary depending on length of commitment and how many times per week.

“The most important thing to know about this business is that it focuses on helping people build strength and mobility that truly matter for everyday life. It’s not just about quick fixes or aesthetics, it’s about creating sustainable fitness habits, improving movement quality, and empowering clients to feel confident and capable long term,” Colello said. “The approach combines expert coaching, functional training, and a supportive environment to deliver results that last well beyond the gym. We emphasize quality over quantity, prioritizing proper technique, safety, and sustainable progress in every session. Training is built around functional movement, mobility, and strength, ensuring clients improve real-life performance rather than chasing quick fixes or trends. The approach combines expert coaching with a supportive environment, creating programs that fit individual lifestyles and delivering lasting benefits.”

He wants G45 Strength & Conditioning to be known for delivering functional fitness that improves real-life movement and strength and creating time-efficient, personalized training experiences that focus on mobility, injury prevention, and sustainable results.

“I was a two-sport athlete in high school, which naturally created an interest in athletics and coaching,” Colello said. “I went to Plymouth State University for both my bachelor’s degree physical education and Applied Health Fitness with a minor in Coaching and Gerontology and my master’s degree in athletic administration. I have coached football at the varsity and college prep level as well as track and field and softball. Through all of this experience, after 12 years as Bridgton’s Recreation Director, it was time for me to pursue my true passion and help people get healthy and support athletes get healthy and support athletes in their development in their respective sports.”

For more details about G45 Strength and Conditioning, call 207-207-256-7559 or visit g45strength.com. Find them on Facebook under G45 Strength & Conditioning. <

Business Spotlight: Maine Home Maintenance

Bridging the gap between simple handyman tasks and large contactor services, Maine Home Maintenance offers an affordable alternative for projects of all sizes.

Maine Home Maintenance is owned and operated by 
Chris Lawlor, right, and Dave Stritch. Together they
have more than 30 years of experience in carpentry
and home remodeling. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Based in the Lakes Region, Maine Home Maintenance is owned and operated by Chris Lawlor with his partner Dave Stritch. Together they bring over 30 years of experience in carpentry and the home remodeling business. The company takes pride in its versatility and strives to create something different with each job it undertakes.

“We offer reliable home services,” Lawlor said. “From small repairs to major home improvements, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a homeowner, vacation rental owner, or a small business, Maine Home Maintenance provides expert craftsmanship to get the job done. No job is too big or small. We’re your go-to expert for home repairs, maintenance, and renovations. Let us fix it right the first time.”

Maine Home Maintenance offers a wide range of services, including general repairs for doors, windows, siding, drywall, locks, and more. Their team handles everything from new deck builds to complete deck restorations, as well as light plumbing and electrical work such as faucet replacements, lighting updates, and other minor fixes. They also provide professional flooring installation, interior and exterior painting, and weatherproofing to protect your home from Maine’s rugged conditions. Seasonal services include winterizing, storm-damage repairs, and vacation-rental upkeep to ensure your property stays in top shape year-round.

“The best part of what we do is giving people new or revitalized spaces in their homes,” Lawlor said. “We are all about making people happy.”

According to Lawlor, the most significant aspect of the business is the wide range of work that the company performs, as well as the exceptional quality of that work and that’s what distinguishes Maine Home Maintenance from the competition.

“Our pricing is very competitive I would say because it is not often that a bid or price we give is not accepted or is beaten by someone else,” he said. “Our business is best known for our quality workmanship. We also tend to do a lot of deck builds or refinishing and we give people a new or more usable outdoor space to enjoy.”

In business for a year after nearly two decades of working for other companies, Lawlor employs a staff of five at Maine Home Maintenance and provides services spanning throughout the Lakes Region over to the Bath and Brunswick region and as far south as Wells and Ogunquit.

Lawlor got his start in the carpentry business when he was a child.

“My dad was a jack of all trades, and I helped him redo the old farmhouse I grew up in,” he said. “But in a professional manner my first full-time job was in a cabinet shop when I was 19 years old in 1999. After that I built garages for a while and when I moved down here in 2005, I was lucky enough to get a job with a company that tackled multi-million dollar homes, commercial jobs and buildings as well as smaller homes and jobs. Something I pride myself on is my broad range of knowledge, experience, and tools. Simply put, I enjoy knowing how to do things, how to build things and fix things and have since I was a kid. I have amassed an extensive amount of knowledge and tools for a very wide variety of applications, extending well beyond just carpentry and home maintenance and repairs. Because of those reasons we receive excellent reviews and customer feedback.”

Their reviews are exceptional:

“Excellent quality work, on time and on budget. Easy to talk to and took great care with a long list of home maintenance items including replacing a deck railing, evaluating and replacing rotting decking, replacing and painting exterior trim, interior paint and wall touchups, ceiling patch and paint, and window replacement. It’s great to finally have a reliable handyman! We will definitely be using them again.” ~ Erica Stritch

“Professional, quick and did a beautiful job! Thanks for the new steps!!” ~ Stephanie Thibodeau

“Chris was amazing. He quoted us on our deck, was reasonable priced, showed up on time was professional and the work he did was incredible. It was a no-brainer to have him come back to do the siding. We are so happy with the finished product and would call him back for all our future projects. He was so good with our dog too!” ~ Kenneth Horton

Maine Home Maintenance is fully insured and offers free estimates. They currently have winter openings for all your indoor project needs and would also be happy to get your summer projects on the books. You can request an appointment on their website at www.mainehomemaintenance.com or call 207-894-0424. Check out their Facebook page for wonderful articles that shed light on various upgrades and tips for transforming your home. <

Business Spotlight: LaPrino Longarm Quilting Services

For many quilters, part of the final finishing of their lovingly sewn quilt top into a fully completed piece that’s both durable and beautifully textured is the most challenging step. That’s where LaPrino Longarm Quilting Services comes in. It is owned and operated by Gail LaPrino who has become a trusted solution for quilters who want professional-quality finishing work with the personal touch of a lifelong fiber artist. With decades of sewing experience, top-tier equipment, and a reputation for clear communication, LaPrino has created a business that blends artistry, precision, and reliability for customers throughout southern Maine and beyond.

Gail LaPrino of Windham owns LaPrino Longarm 
Quilting Services which uses Edge to Edge 
Computer Assisted Machine Quilting to create
stunning and exceptional patterns for quilts.
COURTESY PHOTO   

LaPrino describes her work with a mix of practicality and pride: “I like to say I quilt quilts for quilters.” It’s a simple phrase, but it captures her role perfectly. Customers bring her their meticulously pieced quilt tops and backing fabric. She offers Quilter’s Dream batting if needed. Using her longarm machine and Pro-Stitcher robotic software, she stitches the layers together with carefully selected decorative designs. Her machine spans a full 12-foot frame, allowing her to finish anything from small home décor pieces to king-sized quilts with accuracy and consistency.

Despite the high-tech tools at her side, longarm quilting demands far more than pushing a button. It took LaPrino two months of daily training to fully learn the software, master the design tools, and understand how to adapt to the quirks of each individual quilt. The Pro-Stitcher allows her to resize and modify thousands of available stitching patterns, but her experience, technical judgment, and attention to detail is what makes each project exemplary.

Her primary service is edge-to-edge (E2E) computerized quilting, in which one cohesive pattern runs across the entire quilt. This method is precise, efficient, and affordable, making it ideal for most quilts intended for everyday use. E2E quilting gives customers a polished finish without the higher cost of custom free-motion quilting.

LaPrino also offers add-on services that customers appreciate. For a small charge, she prepares and machine-sews the binding to the front of the quilt so customers can hand-stitch the binding at home. She provides design help when needed, guiding quilters through thread colors and pattern choices. Many find this easier to do in person where they can see samples and examine the designs up close, which she is happy to accommodate with an appointment.

While her equipment and skill set are major strengths, what many customers highlight most is her professionalism, attention to detail, and customer care. “I want people to know this is a true business, not just a hobby,” LaPrino says. She keeps consistent work hours, maintains realistic turnaround times, and communicates thoroughly from the moment a quilt arrives until it’s ready to go home. If she encounters a question or concern, she contacts the customer with photos before beginning. And when the work is complete, she sends an image of the finished quilt and the invoice so that the pick-up process is clear and simple.

Her dedication has earned strong praise throughout the quilting community. Molly Phoenix of The Sewing Exchange in Portland told LaPrino she is the only longarm quilter she recommends after LaPrino presented samples of her work at the shop, and customers they referred to her returned expressing how pleased they were with the experience. The steady stream of repeat clients, LaPrino says, speaks volumes as does feedback such as from Pat H. of Buxton who says, “Gail always makes every quilt she has done for me look absolutely beautiful!” and Catherine Holt of Catherine’s Fabric Creations in Saco noting “The quality, fast turnaround time and service are beyond my expectations. I highly recommend Gail!”

Her expertise is built on a lifetime in fiber arts. Taught by her Nana, the town dressmaker in Monroe, Maine, LaPrino began sewing at age 8 and later became a dressmaker and tailor at age 20 while attending the University of Maine. She trained in tailoring under her former mother-in-law, studied pattern making at Newbury College in Boston, and spent years sewing wedding gowns and professional dance costumes, even seeing one of her gowns featured on the cover of New England Bride Magazine. She authored a book on sewing dance costumes and ran her own dance costume business, Dancing Designs, until she retired in 2012. She had always done some home dec and quilting but in 2019 was really bitten by the quilting bug and has been prolific since in quilting for family, friends and the charity “Linus’s Blanket” local chapter.

LaPrino started her longarm quilting business in Buxton in 2024 before moving to Windham in 2025, where she continues to run her studio independently. “Mainly I started the business to pay for the machine and software. You can buy a car for the price of a large computerized longarm system which ranges from $20 to 40K” she revealed. Up until then she had rented one or did free motion quilting on her domestic sewing machine. The robotic features of her longarm machine allow her to engage fully in the craft she loves without the strain on her joints that sewing caused.

While most of her clients come from York and Cumberland counties, LaPrino is happy to accept mail-in quilts from anywhere, providing an additional option for people who can’t visit in person.

For quilters who prefer hands-on involvement, appointments are encouraged so they can visit the studio, view sample stitches, choose thread colors, compare patterns, and discuss the best design for their quilt. Gift certificates are also available.

To learn more, call 207-400-9504, visit www.laprinolongarm.com or find her on Facebook under Gail LaPrino Longarm Quilting. <