Business Spotlight on Maine Insurance Benefits Group

By Gayle Plummer

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were someone locally to help you with your insurance? To answer your questions? To help you get the right plan? To help you save money? And wouldn’t it be wonderful if that help was free? Well, it turns out there is a place to go for all that free help with the varied insurance products available - and it is Maine Insurance Benefits Group located right in Windham. Rand Clark, President of Maine Insurance Benefits Group (MIBG) is genuinely committed to helping people navigate and enjoy the world of insurance, as are all MIBG brokers. They simplify the how-to-process and navigate people through it all…showing folks how to choose the perfect insurance, custom-fit for their personal lifestyle in a manner they can afford.

Brokers are different from typical insurance agents in this way: MIBG Brokers can offer insurance plans from all available sources. They can select from Harvard Pilgrim, Anthem, Martins Point, WellCare, Mutual of Omaha, United Healthcare or Delta Dental and many others. While agents typically have one product to offer from the company they represent, MIBG Brokers can custom-fit your insurances to your needs and your wallet. They do not sell a one-size-fits-all type of product.

Clark shared, “It does not cost the client anything to use a broker because the insurance company pays the brokers, not you. Our clients get a tailor-made match rather than a random choice, which is much more of a perfect fit than they might end up with if they used an agent offering only one product. People will often sign up online, which is not a good plan because most folks don’t have enough information to make an informed choice. For example: if you were to choose a company online for your insurance needs and you are a person/family that travels, but the company you selected doesn’t cover certain travel situations or criteria – you could pay for coverage with a gap. 

Typically the public is just not aware of the different options and offers that are available and plans change each year. Often folks end up with and pay for the wrong coverage for their needs. They are missing out on the perfect fit that makes the insurance process not be a painful one, but in fact, become a peaceful one. MIBG Brokers are helpful in considering who your doctor is, which medications you use, and your travel/lifestyle to fit the policy best suited to your needs. Our advice: Don’t fly solo, let us help you. We stay updated on the changes in the market in Maine.”

Clark goes on to say, “Our brokers offer much more than insurance options and education. We want to be there in a real personal aspect: answering your questions, listening to your needs, helping you choose products that work for your situations; and offer free yearly reviews of your changing lifestyles and modify your insurance coverage. We want to be your Broker! We want to be your Broker for life. We are there through all your life phases and stages. We are there before claims, during claims and after claims are settled. We guide the young couple just starting out, on how to gently begin the process by selecting products they can afford at the beginning of their lives – perhaps renters insurance. We are there to modify the plan as they grow into a family, to adjust to their needs as the children arrive and houses are purchased; coverage then will be needed for family, home and all vehicles – even snowmobiles and ATV’s.  We are also there to help plan for Medicare choices, retirement, college funds, annuities and supplemental incomes to fit all life situations: medical, loss of life, accidents. Life changes for us all and so do the insurance needs.”

Clark and all the Brokers at MIBG take personal pleasure in helping folks who are on fixed incomes. Often they can save these people money on their coverages. Many clients have called to thank the Brokers and tell them that they can now afford their prescriptions, or maybe the extra savings allows them to go out to lunch and enjoy life a little more. They are also affiliated with the Senior Planning Center and enjoy helping folks with more than insurance. They are pro-active in: getting people fuel assistance, welfare, MaineCare or anything to help people live a little better lifestyle. “Helping people makes us happy,” Clark said. “We care about more than the insurance coverage aspect - we care about the whole person.”

One of the many goals at MIBG is to recruit more brokers. They will provide one-on-one training for people in all age groups, no experience required. Clark stated, “We are here to help support a broker who wants to build his own, independent business. We hire brokers throughout the state of Maine.”

Stop by for a visit at 677 Roosevelt Trail, or call the office at 207-894-7710. You can also reach Rand Clark on his cellphone at 207-632-2756 or email him at randclark@mibgbrokers.com. Be sure to visit their website at www.MaineInsuranceBenefitsGroup.com

Business Spotlight on JAR Cannabis Co.

By Gayle Plummer

When you walk into the new shop of JAR Cannabis Co. you immediately notice the cozy, cabin-at-the-lake atmosphere. New wide boards on the walls, soft decorative touches and comfy chairs for meeting with the knowledgeable staff, all warmly greet you when you enter.  Erika Morrotta, a business partner of JAR Cannabis Co. has been serving certified patients under Maine’s Medical Marijuana Program since 2011. This medical marijuana retail store opened on January 22, 2019 in Windham at 11 Storm Drive and is JAR’s first retail medical store.

“Our mission is to provide our clients with an experience that is both comfortable and personable. Our goal is to assist and serve certified medical marijuana clients in the Greater Windham Area with top quality, lab tested, medicinal products and professional service in a space that is clean, welcoming and quintessentially Maine,” said Morrotta. 

The staff members at JAR Cannabis Co. are licensed caregivers who take a holistic approach to wellness - and the caregiving begins with taking a lot of pride in their approach to growing cannabis in their clean, top of the line facility. To ensure accurate dosing standards, they test and verify their products, giving their patients ease of mind and confidence. They offer pure and effective medicine in the form of flower, concentrates, edibles and CBD products; including tinctures, capsules, lotions, salves and lip balms. JAR offers a one-stop-shop where there is something for everyone. All of their products make a great addition to the healthy, outdoor-lifestyle that the JAR Co. brand embodies.

Morrotta says, “Having other business interests in Standish and Gorham, we are confident that Windham will be a great location for this new venture. Recent changes to the state medical marijuana law, which now allow medical marijuana caregivers a retail storefront, was also a driving force behind opening the store. Prior to our final decision, the JAR team approached all business neighbors in the area to get feedback about our specific use. With the support from our neighbors, we had a positive experience working with the Town of Windham through the permit stage and ultimately into the occupancy stage. This location and this community is a great fit for our team.”

JAR’s founders were born and raised in Maine and obtained Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Maine. They felt fortunate to be in Maine at a time when the state was formalizing its medical marijuana industry. Because they were early participants in the marijuana program, it allowed them time to try and to perfect a method of producing medicine that they are extremely proud of and confident in. “We’ve had a firm belief in using industry-leading equipment and engineered cultivation rooms to produce our medicine. Most importantly, it is the daily discipline and the work that makes our product what it is. It’s common for people to cut corners in this industry and we’ve always prided ourselves in taking the extra time and doing it right the first time – and every time,” Morrotta states.

Through their caregiving experience, they have been able to get to know their patients personally, and assist them with their medical marijuana needs. JAR Co. has witnessed the positive effects of this medicinal therapy, and truly believes in the benefits it provides. This is why the JAR Co. team is extremely passionate about continually improving and perfecting various cultivation methods, strains, and the end forms of the medical products they offer.Morrotta goes on to say, “We have a vision for the way a medical marijuana business should look, feel and operate. We’ve built this vision into an operational reality – that is now open! The industry has been competitive and will continue to be. So we really spent a lot of time researching, traveling and working with professional designers who had decades of retail experience in order to launch this store. Our vision is that clients will notice and feel the JAR Co. difference when they visit for the first time. You only get one chance at making a first impression!”

They are located in the plaza with Ice Cream Dugout at 11 Storm Drive in Windham. For a personal consultation to find out which products are a good fit for you, they invite you to stop in Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed Sunday and Monday. The hours will be changing sometime in March or early spring to Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will remain closed on Mondays.

For information about their products visit http://jarcannabis.com/. You can also call 207-893-8607 or email at contact@jarcannabis.com   <

Business Spotlight on Orange Circuit Fitness

By Gayle Plummer

A grand opening is planned just in time for spring for the Windham location at this fitness center - but it is up and running now. Don’t wait until the grand opening to take advantage of the fitness discount offers that expire soon!

Orange Circuit Fitness (OFC) is known as The Body Positive Gym: For Everybody and Every Body Type. The gym is located at 9 Amato Drive, right behind Applebees and the goal for Orange Circuit Fitness is to provide the Windham area with a state-of-the art full fitness facility that offers a level of value and amenities that competitors can’t offer. OCF prides itself on protecting the atmosphere for all members; which means the environment at the facility is designed to provide a comfortable surrounding for all with the best value available.  

Along with other discount offers (listed below) OCF is offering their February Family Month! It is their $1 for 1 Month Sale. Join in February and pay only $1 for the whole month for any of the memberships they offer. There are a variety of amenities and membership programs available and go as low as $19 per month. The Blu Pass is the featured membership for February and offers: Family membership – four memberships for the price of one: Use of all OCF locations, bring a guest anytime, tanning, hydro massage, fit body scanning, Kids Club (child watch), and fitness-on-demand/100s of virtual group exercise classes. The current offer of $149 for one year expires on 1/31/19 so be sure to take advantage soon! Other offers that will expire on 1/31/19 are: White Pass - $1 Down and $19 Per Month and the Blu Pass -$1 Down and $39 Per Month.

OCF is fully staffed and provides the following health/training equipment: cardio machines, strength machines, free weights, stretching rooms, aerobic rooms, Olympic benches, squat racks, turf training and hi tech body fat scanners and lots more. Also available are full lockers, shower rooms along with personal trainers.

Hours: Monday – Thursday 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

            Friday – 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

            Sat. & Sun. – 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Phone: 207/892-2196

Website: www.orangecircuitfitness.com

Other locations:

* 550 Center Street, Auburn, ME #207/330-3000

* 31 Gurnet Road, Brunswick, ME #207/725-2944

Business Spotlight on Windham Work Lounge

By Gayle Plummer

Windham Work Lounge, Windham’s first co-working facility will be opening soon! A growing Windham will soon have space to offer people, with creative business ideas; a place to go to develop their businesses without necessarily taking the large financial risks of renting individual office spaces. 

 “We want people envisioning a comfortable, stylish business community atmosphere with amenities rather than thinking about office cubicles. Co-working spaces are the next logical progression in evolving an ideal work environment and we are pumped to be creating one for Windham” stated Kate Hebold, start-up manager for Windham Work Lounge. She continued, “The hours will vary depending on the membership type that one purchases. Our Basic Members will have key fobs (small security key device) that grant access from 6 am to 6 pm. However, we have great private offices available as well, and those tenants will have increased accessibility to their suites. Along with more accessibility, they will also be entitled to the same basic member benefits such as booking conference rooms, a kitchen, the co-working area and the outside patio. The private office suites upstairs are ideal for people who are more established in their business fields but still would like to walk out of their offices and feel the energy of being amongst their creative peers, all pursuing their own unique goals.”

Dennis Strout, (Contact/Team Member) has a recently vacated building that wasn’t being utilized.  After some discussions with locals and friends, such as Thomas Bartell, Director of Economic Development in Windham, Dennis realized how much enthusiastic support and input was forthcoming and it didn’t take long to start working on this concept, due to this motivating idea that Windham could definitely benefit from such a place.

Kate Hebold

The team that has been putting all the pieces in place consists of Strout, Hebold and Andreas Aronsson, who is the web site creator.

And now, this team is setting up for their open house scheduled for Wednesday, February 27 from 1 pm to 5 pm and they are located at 102 Tandberg Trail, Windham.

Strout and Hebold agreed that the agenda of a co-working venue is not really to be standing around talking; yet there is always going to be a natural type of networking that will be taking place that can help, inspire or connect some of the folks within the co-working facility.

As an example Hebold shared that she and her brother did exactly that in another co-working facility. “My brother and I are business partners in an asset management company and we frequently book times to catch up, at a private conference room in the Portland co-working facility, Cloud Port; I highly recommend folks check it out. A conference room there can easily be booked remotely; and this is a service that we will also have available at Windham Work Lounge. It feels great to just roll in, grab a free coffee and have a private room all reserved for your business needs. While we were there, my brother met an individual who was a great web designer and a creative thinker. We liked connecting with him immediately, both in passing and during lunch. My brother really appreciated his ideas and his vibe, so it was effortless to ask if he could assist us with a website and ad campaign.

Andreas Aronsson

Knowing this person up front took the sting or risk out of commissioning a site blindly or via the arduous process of: finding someone online, setting up a meeting, then hoping it was a fit; if it wasn’t a good match, then one would have to find a diplomatic way of saying ‘we are not interested or this is not a good fit.’ A co-working atmosphere can lend itself to some simple networking that will take some of this kind of stress off.”

Strout and Hebold feel that the Windham Work Lounge will play to its strengths of being located in a rural town. For instance, there is the large, backyard patio area where folks can work, meet or run workshops. The more secluded area will lend itself to a membership application process where the team will accept a limited number of folks and create a more robust intake process that will provide harmony and safety. The team is also looking to acquire some local artisan furniture and artwork that will harmonize with their theme. They would like to offer the furniture for sale by consignment as well. They are motivated by the area’s talent and feel they want to promote local folks to get their crafts out into the world.

Strout and Hebold agreed that, “Mainly, we just want Windham to have what most cities have access to: an affordable space for a diverse group of people who are just looking to foster their ideas in a professional, comfortable, sustainable atmosphere.”

To learn more about this new work space, contact Dennis Strout, Windham Work Lounge, 102 Tandberg Trail, Windham by calling 207-712-7889 or email at workloungemanager@gmail.com or visit their website, which will soon be found at windhamworklounge.com

Business Spotlight on Maine Dance Center

By Gayle Plummer

The new year is here and many of us have some fresh new goals or visions for ourselves, or maybe we just want to perfect something we love doing - maybe dance. There is a new business in the area that can help. If you have or someone you know has a love for dance, then the new Maine Dance Center (MDC) is very close by and would love to help. Center Stage Performing Arts, ran for 15 years and is now under new management and has a new name. It is now the Maine Dance Center and it is in the same location in the Raymond Shopping Plaza, and now entering its 16^th year.

Rhiannon Pelletier, Artistic Director of the Maine Dance Center has been completely dedicated to dance for as long as she can remember. Rhiannon has been classically trained in ballet by Linda MacArthur Miele (a former pupil of George Balanchine and Artistic Director of the Maine State Ballet). She has also been formally trained in tap, jazz and musical theater.

“Our focus at MDC is for all of our students to develop a lifelong love of dance. Anyone, at any age, can enjoy dancing and our goal is to nourish that joy in a wholesome family environment; while encouraging our more serious students to become the best dancers they can be. We offer an educational, challenging and fun classroom environment, conducted by an outstanding teaching faculty,” Rhiannon said.

About the faculty, Rhiannon reports that, “Maine Dance Center has added some of the greatest talents in the state to our team. In our first year we have quickly established a diverse, yet cohesive team of professionals that are passionate about their work and want nothing more than to see their students thrive. The emphasis here is that this dance center is fresh, redesigned and revamped; it is not the same dance studio it was before. However, at the same time, there are many of the same, familiar faces that the community knows and loves. We all have a clear vision for what we want to do at MDC.”

Rhiannon’s background is extensive with experiences that demonstrate her love of dance. She was born, raised and trained in Maine; and reached the pinnacle of her ballet career in her home state by achieving the title of Principal Ballerina with the Maine State Ballet at the age of 19. She was one of the youngest dancers to join the Maine State Ballet Company at age 14.

By age 21 she expanded her repertoire to include roles such as: Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty,” Swanhilda in “Coppelia,” Sugar Plum and Dew Drop in “The Nutcracker,” Kitri in “Don Quixote. She was also soloist in Balanchine’s “Serenade,” Princess Odette and Odile in “Swan Lake.”

This spring she will add the title role of “Cinderella” to her repertoire. She has been in programs with the American Academy of Ballet, Boston Ballet and continues to expand her training by attending workshops in Portland, Boston and New York. She has taught classes with local studios for over eight years and loves working with children of all ages.

Rhiannon Pelletier

Rhiannon also has a passion for entrepreneurship. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in writing/publishing and a minor in business administration. She runs her own online business as well as balancing Maine Dance Center and her involvement with Maine State Ballet. However, Rhiannon says, “Maine Dance Center is the first priority for me because I’m thrilled to be able to give back to the Southern Maine community through an art form that has given me so much.”

There is excitement in the air as Maine Dance Center will be releasing the summer schedule very soon. They will be hosting a Leap! Camp and a Princess Camp for little ones. There are many guest teachers planned as well as a lot of fun projects coming this summer!

To learn more or to register for classes call 207-655-1600, email mainedancecenter@gmail.com or visit www.mainedancecenter.com. The studio is open weekdays from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Business Spotlight on White Rock Outboard Auto and Marine

By Gayle Plummer

What do little girls and auto, marine and recreational products have in common? Well, the answer is plenty! At least that’s how it is when it comes to owner, Sally Gherardi and her successful, family-owned business that is located at 351 Sebago Lake Road in Gorham on Route 237. “I basically grew up at the shop with my Dad, so I’ve been around the business all my life.  I have had the opportunity over the years to learn about the business and take that knowledge and apply it today,” Sally tells us.

Sally’s parents, George and Brenda Gherardi started the business in 1969 by selling Snow Prince and Moto Ski snowmobiles. Later they took on Glassmaster boats and Chrysler outboards and boats. In 1989 George and Brenda added the Manitou pontoon boat line, since they were starting to be a popular choice for boaters. It was in 1993 they began selling Stingray power boats and in 1997 added the Arctic Cat line of snowmobiles and ATVs to the inventory; along with all the parts and accessories to go with each line they carried. The business still sells Manitou pontoon boats, Arctic Cat snowmobiles and ATVs, Stingray power boats and Mercury outboards today.

White Rock Outboard Auto and Marine is a full service repair shop for all of the products they sell, including Ariens snow blowers along with other small engines.

Sally Gherardi

“All of our current employees have considerable work experience in their fields and are the “best of the best”. Customers come back to us repeatedly due to the exceptional service they receive. We are very well known for our service,” Sally shared.

Sally said, “When my folks owned the business my Dad would always go that extra mile to make a customer happy; whether it meant staying open later or delivering a boat after hours. I want to make sure customers have that same experience in the years to come.”  Surpassing customers’ expectations is what White Rock Outboard staff strives for; and they want the experience to be fun for the customer as well.

Just some of the services offered are: Winterization and storage, de-winterization, boat detailing, fiberglass/gelcoat repair, emergency pick-up, tire repair/installation, shrink wrapping, summarization, full engine repair, pre-season inspections and boat launch/haul out service; just to name a few. The sales department for all units offers both new and used units to sell and White Rock offers the latest innovations in boating technology.

Sally says, “I plan to continue running the business as it currently is, with the hopes of expanding the used car sales portion. We have been a used car dealer for over 30 years and I would like to see that continue into the future. One thing that makes us stand out above other similar businesses is our Service Department. Not only do we service snowmobiles, ATVs and boats but we also have a complete Automotive Service Bay. We do anything from alignments and brakes, to engine and drive train repair. We have a highly qualified mechanic, Brian Bragg who has been with us since 1995. All of our technicians take pride in the work they do and strive to complete jobs in a timely manner. All of my employees are always willing to help out when needed. We continue to earn new customers through word of mouth from people not only in the area, but also out of state.”

This year will mark 50 years of business for White Rock Outboard. Come join in the big celebration planned for the end of the summer or early fall! The 40 year celebration was a huge success and White Rock is inviting all of their customers, and potential customers, to come have lunch with them and help them celebrate 50 years of being a family owned/operated business. Sally says she is very much looking forward to this year’s big event!

Please feel free to visit their website at: www.whiterockoutboard.com for more information.

Their hours are: Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 until 2:00 p.m.  Email address: whiterockoutboard@gmail.com, or call them at: 207/892-9606.

Business Spotlight on Mattress By Appointment

By Gayle Plummer

There are always the typical large purchases we all must make in life: cars, appliances, furniture and mattresses. Usually those buying experiences are not fun experiences for us. After all, they require research, dealing with aggressive sales people (most times) and of course, parting with a large amount of our hard-earned cash.

One new business in the area is helping the community alleviate all the above problems when it’s time to buy a mattress. Dewey and Denise Kopenga are a husband/wife team who has opened Mattress By Appointment in the Windham Mall (near Smitty’s) at 795 Roosevelt Trail.

Dewey and Denise have another store in Biddeford that has been open for a year and they offer all the major brands at far below traditional retail costs. They can offer 50 to 80 percent off retail prices every day.

Dewey states that they maintain extremely low overhead by reducing high overhead costs. They have no employees, large fancy storefronts and they don’t run expensive TV ads or do any major advertising. Dewey says, “Our store is no frills. You won’t see balloons, free coffee and cookies or sales people in suits here; we keep our prices low by cutting costs and keeping overhead as low as possible. Also, we have huge buying power with the manufacturers, every mattress is made in the United States and they all come with warranties.”

Mattress By Appointment offers a wide variety of mattresses. Styles include pillow tops to gels and everything in between and in twin, full, queen and king sizes. They can also offer special sizes for campers, camps and summer homes.

Box springs or foundations are always included in the price and they also offer delivery, in most cases, the same day.

“We want folks to have a smooth, easy, stress-free transaction,” shared Denise. “Let’s face it, buying a new mattress is not fun for anybody. If you let us help you, we can save you money, time and stress by using our formula which is:  Step 1-Call or Text 207-423-8434. Step 2-Come in and choose your mattress. Step 3-Take it home or have it delivered. We do offer financing with a $40 down /100 days, same as cash financing. That’s all there is to it.”

Owners, Denise and Dewey Kopenga

Because their storefront is pretty much non-existent, Dewey reported that, “. . . at first some people were skeptical of the business model but once inside they quickly change their minds and they came out with extra money in their pocket and a new, quality mattress to sleep on in approximately 10 -15 minutes, which is typically all the time it takes.”

Dewey and Denise had both come from the corporate world, for over 20 years, when they became interested in the mattress business. Dewey says, “We wanted to be involved in a business that would allow us to spend more time with the family while offering a product that everybody needs at a fair price. With Mattress By Appointment, I feel that it is a win/win situation for us and the customer.”

Dewey and Denise are excited to serve this community as they have been doing in Biddeford for the past year; and they are hoping to grow their business to other southern Maine locations over time.

You can find lots of great reviews on Facebook and you are invited to visit the website at: www.mattressbyappointment.com or call for an appointment at: (207)423-8434. Visit both locations: 1) Windham @795 Roosevelt Trail, Windham Mall; 2) 40 Main St. Biddeford – Inside the Pepperell Mill.

Business Spotlight on Hello, Doggie! Daycare

By Gayle Plummer

If the words “Hello Dolly!” bring fun, happy thoughts and feelings to mind, then all pet owners will be glad to know there is such an experience for their dogs right here in the community.  Hello, Doggie! Daycare is very much like a fun, safe and stimulating theater production or an upbeat summer camp experience for your dog. Located on 1311 Roosevelt Trail, Raymond, new owner Shannon Oliver guarantees that your pet will have a positive and healthy experience when away from home. Whether your pet is there for daycare or training – they will enjoy lots of love, lots of fun and some very serious care.

Shannon has worked professionally with dogs for the last five years in both daycare and boarding environments. She worked at Jordan Bay Dog Daycare, at the same location, when the opportunity came for her to take over the business. Shannon’s mission statement comes from her belief that dogs deserve a safe, healthy and stimulating social environment.

“My dogs are the largest inspiration for me – I wanted to create a safe, stimulating environment and offer a service where I would want my dogs to spend their time, if I were ever away. A place I would feel confident in. What would I want my dogs to do during the day or overnight? These questions are what really fueled our policies.”

Shannon’s goal is to set a higher standard for her pet daycare/boarding facility. She firmly believes that, “. . . your dog deserves 24/7 supervision when you are away” and maintains a dog-to-staff ratio of 10:1. Staff sleeping overnight in the same room as the clients’ un-kenneled dogs is a service unlike any other in the area. “We strive to provide an environment for dogs that is second only to their real home! We offer individualized care to meet your dogs’ needs and update owners as often as they like with photos and videos of their dogs’ stay. My business goals center around providing the community with a place they can trust their dogs to be loved and cared for in their absence or during their work day; all while doing our best to strengthen the owner-pet bond.”

Shannon Oliver and friend

As part of the team, Shannon has added Certified Trainer, Chris Ford (ABCDT and AKC CGC & S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator) to the team. “We are able to provide both private training and group lessons to dog owners in our community. We are offering the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Course as well as three classes that, when completed in succession, prepare owners and their dogs for the Canine Good Citizen Test. We simply want to offer better services to all dogs out there. I would like to see our training offerings continue to expand in the future,” Shannon says.

“I am a huge fan of the arts, having performed with local community theaters since high school.  A couple of my recent appearances were as Carrie White in Lyric Music Theater’s production of “Carrie” and as Jo March in their production of “Little Women”. “Hello, Dolly!” was the first community theater musical I was part of through Lake Region Community Theater and it changed my life for the better. My two largest loves are animals and theater. When I came up with our name, it was the best combination of the two things. I really wanted a unique name and setup to separate us from other dog centers. I do have dreams of Hello, Doggie! one day being able to contribute largely to the local arts community.”

Hello, Doggie! Daycare website demonstrates Shannon’s love of the arts, as she has incorporated many little theatrical features into her business. For example, Shannon has named her potential dog guests as “cast members”; her pricing is described as “Show” (full day of daycare), “Matinee” (half day of daycare) and “One Act” (up to 2.5 hours of daycare). She refers to her team as “Stage Hands” and she sincerely wants all of her “cast” to enjoy their experience.

Certainly that seems to be the case. Shannon requires an “audition” for all potential guests. This is a half-day visit to the daycare so all new dogs can become acclimated to the new environment, the staff and other dogs. Shannon offers flexible pricing and package deals along with combo-pricing for multiple dogs. All dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations and all pets are to have DHLPP (distemper combo), Rabies and Bordetella.

When one enters the building, it is immediately obvious that the sounds you hear are happy, positive, fun sounds coming from all the dogs. There was no whining, crying or aggressive barking to be heard; only lots of friendly barks and very good energy emanating through the building.

To contact Hello Doggie! Daycare please visit their website at: www.hellodoggiedaycare.com

Email: info@hellodoggiedaycare.com or call: 655-6521. Hours are: Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.