Business Spotlight: LRE Electric

No matter what your electrical needs are for your home or your business, LRE Electric is standing by and is ready to assist.

David Duhamel owns and operates LRE Electric and is an
expert in Generac power solutions and Generac generators.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Owned by David Duhamel and based at 38 Harrison Road in Naples, LRE Electric provides outstanding electrical contracting services, and no job is too large or too small for the company.

“We do everything from troubleshooting tripping breakers, to installing electrical service and wiring for whole homes, as well as larger commercial jobs,” Duhamel said. “We are also an authorized dealer and installer of Generac generators.”

As experts in every technical part and feature of our Generac power solutions, LRE Electric can recommend the right size Generac generator for your needs which can automatically restore power to your home during an outage caused by storms, failed equipment or an overworked power grid, so your life goes on uninterrupted.

Because LRE Electric is a small local company, its staff of knowledgeable technicians take the time to get to know their customers and offer personalized, friendly and responsive services in a courteous and polite manner.

“We care about our customers and seek to establish a great relationship with every single person who calls us or walks through our door,” Duhamel said. “We always answer the phone or call right back, and our staff and technicians are outgoing and highly professional.”

LRE electricians can do it all and are experienced at installing electrical panels, circuit breakers, ground wire installation, putting in ceiling fans, installing EV chargers, lighting, and outlets and switches to performing significant commercial renovations, repairing outdoor lighting, resolving unexpected power outages, fixing safety hazards, and upgrading inefficient electrical systems.

Fully licensed and insured, LRE Electric’s rates are highly affordable and competitive. The company also provides professional electrical inspections to identify hidden problems caused by damaged components that are affecting the efficiency of electrical systems.

“We provide top-notch customer service starting at the initial contact and we continue with the same level of service even after the job is complete,” Duhamel said. “We aim to make every job we do a great experience for our customers.”

Duhamel started LRE Electric in 2022 with just himself and one other technician and the company has grown to now include seven technicians and a full-time office manager. He is certified as a master electrician and has years of experience and expertise in the electrical field.

“I was always fascinated with how electricity worked and functioned and there are so many aspects of the field you can pursue. Every day brings something new,” he said. “We’ve grown quickly and it’s fantastic to hear a lot of new customers tell us they see our vans everywhere.

Feedback and reviews from customers have been exceptional.

“Extremely pleased with service provided at our camp. Dave was prompt and responsive to all of our calls during the construction phase of our project. This service continues as we have further work going on. Always prompt courteous and reliable. Shows up on time-when promised. Pricing was fair and reasonable. Would not hesitate to recommend or use them in the future. Can’t go wrong with LRE.” Donna Diliberto

“LRE Electric are fantastic! When a tree took out power lines along with the lines attached to our home we didn’t know where to start. We contacted Dave at LRE and he immediately started working on the issue. He was prompt and professional in getting our wiring back up. I would highly recommend LRE for any electrical needs!” Matthew Hurley

“Nothing compares to the quality of work received from Dave D and LRE. Dave's most valuable attribute is his honesty. He is always on time, communicates effectively and is very reasonably priced. I've hired many electricians in my time, no one compares to the overall treatment we receive when LRE does the work. Dave and Chris take pride in their craft, offering quality workmanship and follow-up. When it comes to new construction, repair or replacement, these guys are unmatched. If your considering electrical work, commercial or residential, LRE is the company to call.” Tom Bossie

To learn more about LRE Electric, for an estimate or to make an appointment, call 207-890-8002 or visit www.lreelectricmaine.com. Find them on Facebook under LRE Electric. <

Business Spotlight: Windham Rental Center

If you think you know Windham Rental Center, you might want to think again. Under new owners Joe and Donna Poulin, the longtime business at 730 Roosevelt Trail in Windham is growing, all while adapting to changing times with increased rental and retail inventory and featuring quality products that can help get the job done, no matter how large or small the project.

Joe and Donna Poulin took over Windham
Rental Center in 2022. They are proud to
keep the business family owned and 
excited to continue to grow inventory
based upon customer needs.
PHOTO BY MELISSA CARTER

With a staff of eight, Windham Rental Center has a distinguished 27-year record of success as Maine’s premier rental center and serves the entire state, offering the finest in construction and landscape equipment rentals, product delivery, as well as service for the products they sell - and always at competitive and fair pricing.

“The best thing about what we do is helping people,” Joe Poulin said. “We have a truly amazing staff and among us we have a wealth of knowledge and can help advise and provide guidance to those who come in. We offer paths and solutions for projects, what products to use, and how to use our products safely.”

The business has concrete and asphalt rentals; excavation rentals; hand and power tool rentals; home repair rentals; lawn and garden rentals; moving and cleaning rentals; party and event rentals; plumbing rentals; light, power, air, and heat rentals; and pressure washing rentals.

No job is beyond the capability of what can be accomplished with equipment from Windham Rental Center. It has brush cutters; leaf blowers; post drivers; stump grinders; lawn rollers; woodchippers; and post hole diggers. Need an excavator, a skid steer, or a backhoe? Same thing for moving dollys, wet and dry vacuums, saws, airless painters, and hydraulic jacks. All of those and more can be rented from Windham Rental Center.

Trusted brand-name products from Kubota, Bobcat, Black Rhino, Genie, Toro, Rayco, Mud Mixer and Greenworks Commercial, among others, can always be found at Windham Rental.

The business stands behind every product it rents and guarantees that when you take delivery, the equipment is clean and in proper working condition.

“We focus on catching stuff here instead of when you have it out in the field,” Poulin said. “When you pick it up, it will be clean and full of fuel and ready to go.”

According to Poulin, a common misconception is that because of the size of their location, Windham Rental Center may not have the equipment to meet their needs. “Our inventory is posted and updated on our website and people often are surprised by what we have,” he said. “We took over here in May 2022 and have changed the look and the inventory. We also have increased our retail products to meet the needs of contractors and residents and have everything from gloves to beef jerky.”

While they do everything possible to be ready to meet demands, reserving ahead is always recommended, as seasonal demands for some products rises significantly.

“One of the most challenging aspects of what we do is staying on top of the latest and greatest tools for our customers,” Poulin said. “We are always open to feedback and suggestions from both homeowners and professionals to be sure we have what they need.”

Online reviews are exceptional.

“After using Windham Rental Center, I won't go anywhere else, Service was top notch and the equipment was well taken care of! I will be referring my friends and family!! Great job Windham Rental Center!” Robert Duclos

“I had a great experience with Windham Rental. I rented a tractor and mini excavator two days apart. They dropped off the mini-ex machine late in the evening at exactly the time they said they would, and then they returned, picked up the excavator and dropped off the tractor. I had no experience with either machine and they gave me the five-minute run through about how the machines worked and told me they took a few minutes to get used to. They were professional, helpful, and easy to work with.” Paul J.F.

“Great staff that’s very helpful and an incredibly easy process of renting equipment. I would recommend Windham Rental to anyone and I myself will definitely be back!” Sam Pattee

Free quotes are always available at Windham Rental Center which strives to exceed expectations. Call 207-892-7743 or stop in today. Also visit www.windhamrentalcenter.com and find them on Facebook. <

Business Spotlight: Sebago Outfitters

From hiking to kayaking to hunting and fishing, the Lakes Region of Maine offers plenty of opportunities for individuals to get outside and experience an active life. And now a new store, Sebago Outfitters in Raymond, provides the gear to explore the outdoors like never before.

Located at 1254 Roosevelt Trail next to the Aromas Joes in Raymond, Sebago Outfitters opened last fall and is a 2,000-square-foot retail shop providing an array of equipment to enjoy outdoor activities, guided tours by Maine Registered Guides, state fishing and hunting licenses, and FFL firearm transfers.

Owned and operated by Leah Drinkwater, Sebago Outfitters aims to get residents and visitors to explore more of the finest outdoor activities Maine and the Lakes Region has to offer.

“We have something for most anyone. We have the retail outfitter store for families, lake life, kids’ games, fishing, camping, hiking, and local Maine products,” Drinkwater said. “We also have an attached gun shop for the outdoor sportsman or woman.”

She said that the Lakes Region provides a diverse kind of atmosphere with gear that is perfect for family excursions and creating lasting memories for a lifetime while encountering nature at its best. 

“We’re local female-owned and operated,” Drinkwater said. “We focus on education, training and purchasing outdoor gear and whatever you need in a comfortable environment. We are a location where you can find something to do.”

Featuring exceptional customer service, invaluable expertise, a diverse selection of gear and equipment required for all types of outdoor adventures, trained and experience guides familiar with the Lakes Region, and a convenient location to shop close to home, Sebago Outfitters has rapidly become a local favorite in Raymond. 

Emphasizing “Old School Maine Culture” while leading a transformation and renovation of the facility into the first female-owned outdoors sporting goods store in the Lakes Region is a significant accomplishment that Drinkwater says that she’s proud of.

She said that as a local family-owned business that supports other local businesses, Sebago Outfitters strives to be a location where area residents and families can feel right at home.

“Everything from the sign out front and the build out for the renovations of the store were done by local contractors,” she said. “We feature ‘Made in Maine Products’ in particular. Most of our inventory has been supplied by local businesses.”

Drinkwater said Sebago Outfitters is a place where women can learn what they need to know about hunting, fishing or anything related to the outdoors.

“We have had great feedback on our women’s-based hunting and firearms classes last fall led by Maine Guide Emily Parker,” she said. “Across America hunting and fishing are becoming more popular activities for women and that’s evident here in the Lakes Region as well. We can help them do that.”

Surveys show that women are the fastest growing demographic in hunting and fishing nationally and are taking up outdoor activities in record numbers since the onset of the pandemic, reflecting an appreciation for nature and being outdoors, along with a passion for wildlife and public lands.

Drinkwater said families and children are always welcome, and that Sebago Outfitters offers “Wildlife in a box” classes over breaks from school for children that are fun and educational.

“The feedback we get from doing that is great and we’ll continue to offer upcoming classes for the summer and fall,” Drinkwater said.

Opening and renovating the store has been a vision come true for Drinkwater.

“I have my Federal Firearms License and I have personally been training with firearms for over a decade and encourage everyone to practice training, safety, and education,” she said. “You can always expand your knowledge. Our Maine Registered Guides that provide classes and tours must pass the state exam. Fishing and hunting licenses are provided by the state where we are a kiosk location. Everything outdoors has increased in popularity since the pandemic, and we look to help people explore more of the outdoors. Our goal is to have something for everyone. We want everyone to grab a fishing pole and explore more.”

Sebago Outfitters is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

For more information about Sebago Outfitters, call 207-655-3700 or visit Sebagooufitters.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram at Sebagooutfitters <

‘Customized, Attentive Care’ a hallmark of Maine Optometry’s growing practice

Maine Optometry opened its Windham location in 2016. Just five years later, the practice has grown so much that they needed to add a new doctor. In October 2021, they moved into a larger location on Roosevelt Trail, which now includes three doctors. 

“We’re so pleased the community trusts us to take care of their eye health,” says Dr. Achenbach. “My family and I live here in Windham.  We love this community and enjoy giving back both through our work and in other ways. As Windham grows, we’re excited to grow along with it.”

Dr. Rachel Achenbach, Dr. Abigail Delahanty, and Dr. Jacquelyn Wills all welcome new patients at the Windham location of Maine Optometry. Dr. Wills, a recent graduate of NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry, had previously completed her primary eye care rotation at Maine Optometry.

Though the practice is located in Windham, the doctors serve patients from a much wider geographical area. Some people even come from New Hampshire to see Dr. Achenbach, Dr. Delahanty, and Dr. Wills.

In addition to the new Windham location, Maine Optometry has six other doctor-owned locations throughout southern and central Maine.

With the move into the larger office in Windham, Maine Optometry is also adding the most up-to-date technology and new equipment. The retail area for selecting glasses will be updated, giving clients even more opportunity to find just the right frame for their style. They carry all the latest lens options—including blue light blocking lenses, no-line bifocals, sunglasses with options including polarized, mirror, and transition lenses, scratch coating and non-glare lens treatments, specialty lenses for digital screen and occupational use, and sports and safety eyewear.

While the move means a new space and updates to the equipment, one major thing won’t be changing—existing and new patients will still be able to count on the unparalleled service and care they have always received from the doctors and staff.

“I hear all the time from patients how happy they are with our staff’s positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond,” said Dr. Achenbach. “It’s always wonderful to get that feedback, and we love being able to provide such a positive environment where people feel comfortable as they are taking care of an important aspect of their health.”

As a doctor-owned practice, Maine Optometry is able to offer a broad spectrum of eye health services while also providing customized, attentive care to the patients they see.

In addition to annual eye exams and vision correction, the doctors at the practice can diagnose and treat glaucoma, cataracts, eye health conditions related to diabetes and high blood pressure, dry eye, and other visual problems in children and adults.

Handling emergencies is also a specialty of Maine Optometry. They have a doctor on-call every night until 10 P.M. who is available to handle situations such as flashes, floaters, and irritated or swollen eyes.

Maine Optometry is committed to making eye health as easy and as accessible as possible for their patients. Insurance is a major piece of accessibility - Maine Optometry accepts most major insurances to help make their practice a viable option for more people in the community.

“Convenient access to high quality care—that’s what we want to provide our community,” said Dr. Achenbach. “Eye health is so important to overall health and quality of life, and we want to help make sure people are able to get the care they need. We’re a private practice and doctor-owned, so we have the knowledge and flexibility to provide our patients with personalized, expert care.”

Maine Optometry is also increasing accessibility and convenience by offering online options. Recently, they’ve made it possible to order contacts online through their website with a feature that also allows people to see their order’s progress.

Maine Optometry’s website - www.maineoptometry.com - lists out the insurances they accept, and also allows patients to download forms and pay their bill right on the site. Current and prospective patients can also keep up with the practice on Facebook. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 207-729-8474. <