Business Spotlight: Knuckle Up Customs

Very exciting news for those who love motorcycles and are looking to explore the open road anytime, anyplace, and especially here in Maine. Knuckle Up Customs, a favorite local shop to take care of motorcycle body work and painting needs, audio systems, air ride and all aftermarket accessories, has a new location in Windham and is ready to perform all your Harley quality customization and specialty work.

Anthony Scamman, owner of Knuckle Up
Customs, welcomes motorcycle lovers 
to check out his new shop at 608
Roosevelt Trail in Windham.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Owned and operated by Anthony Scamman, Knuckle Up Customs has moved from its previous North Windham location to 608 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The move has enabled Knuckle Up Customs to be able to offer a full range of services and to carry a complete line of parts including tires, gaskets and oil in stock.

“We offer an unforgettable experience and unbeatable value and have triple the amount of space we had at the old location,” Scamman said. “Knuckle Up Customs is a leading dealer, proudly serving the Windham area. Our goal is to help with all your Harley Davidson needs, from sale to service to parts. Since our doors first opened, complete customer satisfaction has been our top priority. Our experienced staff is committed to finding the right Harley Davidson products for you at the best possible prices.”

At Knuckle Up Customs, certified technicians are always on hand to take care of your service needs and have an exceptional reputation for paint work and audio installations and repairs.

According to Scamman, the larger Knuckle Up shop now has the space to carry an extensive line of merchandise and apparel as well. That includes a wide variety of accessories and riding gear.

He says that although Knuckle Up Customs specializes in Harley Davidsons they will paint almost any type of bike.

Scamman knows the ins and outs of motorcycles, having started his career in business by detailing bikes in 1991. Now with more than 33 years of experience in the field, he’s able to focus on providing quality products and exceptional service that customers deserve.

“We feature Harley stereo systems, air ride, body kits, parts and accessories and custom Harley builds,” he said. “We are a certified shop for SystemX Ceramic Coatings and complete bike detailing. Whether you are a veteran rider or are planning your first adventure, we welcome you to experience everything Knuckle Up Customs has to offer.”

Available services at Knuckle Up include everything from body and paint to audio systems, air ride, detailing, aftermarket accessories, brake service, tire installations, oil and filter changes, bars and exhaust installations and custom builds. They also offer convenient pick-up and delivery services for motorcycles.

For Scamman the best aspects of his expanded business and new location are delivering quality products and providing outstanding service for new and returning customers.

“I love making someone’s bike a part of them,” he said. “It’s very gratifying to customize it and in doing that, it really becomes a part of who they are.”

He says that the most challenging part of his work is all the constant research that must be done to stay current and up to date with all the latest products and popular accessories ready to hit the market.

But above everything else, Scamman said that listening to people is the most important key to his longevity in the business world.

“The key to lasting success for our business is listening to our customers and what they say they want,” he said. “If you do that and make sure that everyone is happy with the finished product, you can be successful.”

By moving and expanding the Knuckle Up Customs shop, Scamman says he is dispelling the notion that his business is basically just a service shop.

“We focus on products and services that other people do not do, such as music systems and paint work and we encourage everyone to stop in and see what we have to offer,” he said.

Knuckle Up Customs is located at 608 Roosevelt Trail in Windham and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are closed Sundays.

To learn more about Knuckle Up Customs and their custom Harley work and services, call 207-232-5533. Visit their Facebook and social media pages under Knuckle Up Customs. <

Spotlight: The Refuge Church

In a little more than five years since its inception, The Refuge Church continues to grow and is all about helping discover why they were created. 

“We’re all seeking meaning and purpose in our lives,” said Pastor Adam Herald of The Refuge. “We believe The Refuge is a place where everyone can find that.”

From its new location at 765 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, members of The Refuge are excited about the upcoming Easter season and beyond.

“Easter is a big one,” Herald said. “We are offering our regular worship experiences at 9 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday. However, for this year we are asking people to register for one of our services at www.refugemaine.church simply so that we know how to best serve the people in attendance that day.”

Another event that church members are excited about is the return of Windham’s annual Summerfest in June.

“We have partnered with the Town of Windham in the past to provide an inflatable playground at the event,” Herald said. “What I love about what we do at Summerfest is that this inflatable playground is free to the public.  Because of the generosity of our people, we are able to sponsor this with no cost to the community. I'm really looking forward to this event this year because I've really missed it the past.”

According to Herald, the church’s future objectives are simple.

“The goal for the future in our community is the same as the goal today. We want to show people that when they make Jesus their Refuge, they never have to be overwhelmed by the storms of this life. If we've learned anything over the past two or three years, it's that storms in life come.  The question we must answer is, ‘Where do I run when those storms come?’  Well, we hope to be a small part of the answer to that question.”

Herald said that the mission of The Refuge is when they make Jesus their "Refuge," they never have to be overwhelmed by the storms of this life.

“Storms in this life are guaranteed to happen, but the good news is that there is a place and a person to run to.  We show people how to make Jesus their Refuge,” he said. “We do this through our Weekend Experiences every Sunday morning at 9 and 11 a.m.  We also do this through providing an opportunity to form relationships in small groups.  The number one need we all have is relationships, people need people.  One of the greatest services that we can provide at The Refuge is relationships.”

The one aspect that distinguishes The Refuge from other local places of worship is its culture, Herald said.

“I think the thing that separates any organization from the next is the Culture,” he said. “At the Refuge we have five ‘Culture Values’ that we focus on including:

1- We will be dreamers and risk takers.  Not settling our dreams to remain dreams.

2- We will be known what we are for and not what we are against.

3- We will laugh as much as we breathe... as hard as we can stand... and a little louder than normal.

4- We will be in our city and for our city and fiercely love people we haven't even met yet.

5- We will be excellent in all things, because excellence honors God and inspires people

Herald says that the church is as relevant today as when it was founded on March 5, 2017.

“I think the most significant thing we do is just give people a place to belong,” he said. “We always say, ‘You don't have to believe what we believe to belong here.’ People have told us over and over that they have found a place to belong at The Refuge Church.”

Another factor that draws those searching for a great church to The Refuge is its warmth and acceptance of others.

“We love people because God loves people,” Herald said. “He has a purpose and a plan for mankind.  That plan includes knowing him, living in freedom, discovering why we were created, and for us to leave an impact in this world. If anyone is interested in these things, we invite them to come check us out.”

For more information about The Refuge, call 614-REFUGE (614-733-8431), visit the church website at www.refugemaine.church  or find them on Facebook at The Refuge Church. <

‘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. <