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: Square One Contracting Services

With more than three decades of experience and a solid reputation of quality work, Square One Contracting Services is a general contracting company that performs all types of home remodeling and custom home building.

Square One Contracting Services can help transform home
remodeling projects dreams into reality no matter how
large or small and within budget. Here's a before and
after photo showing a project from studs to completion.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Owned and operated by Jason Lamprey, Square One may be new to the Lakes Region and based in Casco, but they are not inexperienced in construction. Jason started his career working in plastering in the 1990s and over the years has grown to know all aspects of construction and developed the expertise to help his customers realize their project dreams.

“We’re focused on building strong relationships with our customers, building strong relationships within our own teams and performing exceptional work,” Jason said. “All your home improvement projects should start at Square One.”

As a contractor, Jason is responsible for managing all vendors and trades working on Square One projects and serves as the focal communications point between all parties. He coordinates the projects, which involves evaluating project documents or determining the site for renovation projects. He submits fixed price bids and considers the costs of construction materials, equipment, and labor and he applies for permits, providing temporary on-site utilities, ensuring that the property is secure, managing anyone working at the site and is responsible for maintaining accurate records and monitoring cash flows for the project.

His ability to communicate effectively, attention to detail and knowledge of the business are exemplary.

“Our professionalism and organization are the major thing that sets us apart from competitors,” Jason said. “The planning and scheduling stage of a project is one of the most important. Keeping all the subcontractors and homeowners informed and updated on the project status is crucial to a successful project.”

Jason said that Square One Contracting Services pricing is based upon what a customer needs for any given project.

“If the project has a tight budget, then we give the customer options based within their price point,” he said. “If it’s a unique custom finish that they are after, then we can provide those options as well.”

Starting out in the construction business right after finishing high school, Jason said that he found the physical work and the ever-changing atmosphere of construction projects to be enjoyable and it led to eventually owning his own company and then a career in overseeing many different types of construction projects.

“To this day, the physical work and the changing project sites are two of my favorite things about construction,” he said. “The best thing about what I do is that I simply like working with customers. It’s an awesome feeling to see their excitement when the project starts to evolve and to see their faces when the project is finished. I also love the fact that I’m never in the same spot for very long.”

He says the most challenging aspect of his work is scheduling and coordinating all the different subcontractors to complete projects without significant lapses.

“It’s not easy, but I to try stay on top of things and try to mesh everything together,” Jason said. “It’s a juggling act sometimes trying to get all the personalities and skilled trades on board.”

With locations in Maine and Dudley, Massachusetts, Square One remains guided by basic expectations that project customers have come to rely on, Jason said.

“Our customers expect prompt recognition when they call or email us,” he said. “They can expect a return phone call or text that day. We believe in timely communication to keep everybody informed of every step of the process. It’s their money and their home, so we do our utmost to keep them involved so they know what’s going on.”

Square One also uses convenient Houzz Pro software in a single, easy-to-use online platform that provides updated project details to everyone involved.

For further information or to see how Square One Contracting Services can help you realize your goals, call 207-544-3183. Visit them on Facebook at Square One Contracting Services or online at www.square1cs.com <

Business Spotlight: Maine Power Wash Pros

The arrival of warmer weather is when Mainers can carefully look over what has happened to the exterior of their homes over the past year. Moss growing up the sides, black soot and lichen on the roof and an overall dull look to houses demand attention. After only a few hours, Maine Power Wash Pros can transform a home’s exterior, roof, and decks back to something a homeowner can be proud of.

Brian Condon and Mike Morin opened Maine Power Wash Pros in 2011 and since they have continuously grown every year thanks in part to their professionalism, knowledge, excellent customer service and dedication to satisfaction. They continue to take classes and seminars to improve their skills and keep up with the trends.

The business is seasonal from April to October, and in that time, they will clean around 1,000 homes and 200 to 300 roofs in Central, Southern and Mid-Coast Maine. With six employees working in teams of two, they cover a lot of ground to service Maine. Maine Power Wash Pros work on residential homes and commercial properties, including condominium complexes.

“Some people are do-it-yourselfers. Power washing homes is a dangerous venture for homeowners to take on themselves,” said Condon, who once saw a homeowner fall off a ladder, while power washing his home and the man broke his back. “We don’t stand on ladders to wash homes,” he confirmed. 

The services offered by Maine Power Wash Pros starts with washing houses. Using a bleach solution, they clean vinyl and wood siding, eliminating it of mold, mildew, and dirt. They also do a low-pressure roof cleaning that uses less pressure than a garden hose to clean shingles. “We go by the National Roofers Association guidelines,” said Condon. “It’s a different process. Pressure washing is not for roofs.”

They also wash decks, full surrounds, cement and more. They refresh and sanitize pool decks, sidewalks, and other cement surfaces, efficiently removing gunk, organic stains, deep-set oil and grease, rust stains and more. “We are very careful of the homeowner’s home. We leave the property in better shape than when we arrive,” said Condon. They are careful not to disturb flowers and shrubs as they are working.

The employees are referred to as co-workers and most come back season after season. All are well trained and insured.

“Every job has its challenges. There’s nothing the guys haven’t seen before,” said Condon. Part of their jobs is educating the homeowners that if there’s moss, lichen or algae on a roof, a simple roof treatment can take care of the issue. They don’t have to put on a new roof, he said. “We’re very particular. Whatever we see – we take care of.”

“There are challenges that some people face, but we don’t have those problems. We have the equipment to be prepared. We’re ready for it, ready for anything,” Condon said.

Most jobs will take between one and two hours to complete, unlike when it might take a homeowner a whole weekend. Don’t spend valuable time doing this job, have Maine Power Wash Pros professionally take care of the power washing and leave your house with a restored beauty and curb appeal. They can easily make your home and surrounding surfaces look years newer and brighter.

The team at Maine Power Wash Pros are honest, trusted, efficient and fast – just ask one of their many repeat customers or check out their website to read their numerous five-star reviews like this one from Michael F. of South Portland: “I hired Mike and the crew at Maine Power Wash Pros to clean the outside of my home. His professionalism began with his prompt arrival the day he came to give me an estimate, which he provided (Printed out! In his car!) on the spot. Mike’s crew was clean, uniformed, professional and personable. They did an amazing job from start to finish, and I am very, very happy with the results. The price was more than fair and the whole process was simple and pleasant. I cannot recommend Maine Power Wash Pros highly enough. Mike and his crew are outstanding and deserve the highest recommendation.”

They are also accredited through the Better Business Bureau. Maine Power Wash Pros offer free estimates, and they accept Visa and Mastercard. 

To contact the company, visit them at www.MainePowerWashPros.com or call 207-320-1801. You can also find them on Facebook. When you call don’t forget to mention their $50 off coupon and ask about their senior discounts. <