Showing posts with label support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label support. Show all posts

Friday, July 11, 2025

Business Spotlight: Salt Spa Wellness

As a genuine natural alternative, salt therapy has been around for centuries and used to relieve everything from respiratory and skin conditions to muscle recovery and mental wellness. Opening next week in Windham, Salt Spa Wellness offers a calming, restorative environment where guests can take a break from the demands of everyday life and focus on their well-being.

Salt Spa Wellness will open next week at 585 Roosevelt
Trail in Windham and will offer affordable holistic
services to help people feel better mentally, physically,
and emotionally. COURTESY PHOTO  
Owned and operated by the Mank Family at 585 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, the mission of Salt Spa Wellness is to help people feel better, mentally, physically, and emotionally, through affordable holistic services designed to relax the body, reset the mind, and support many forms of healing.

Specific services provided by Salt Spa Wellness will include:

Float Therapy (in both single and double rooms) – a sensory deprivation experience in skin temperature, magnesium-rich water that promotes deep relaxation, pain relief, improved sleep, and mental clarity.

Salt Therapy (Halotherapy) in both private and group settings – breathing in pure, dry salt air can help clear the respiratory system, reduce inflammation, and support skin health.

Infrared Halosauna – a unique combination of dry salt therapy and infrared heat that helps detoxify the body, reduce stress, relieve pain, and boost circulation with optional red-light therapy and chromotherapy.

Aqua Massage – a fully clothed massage experience using high-pressure water jets that deliver deep muscle relaxation without needing to get wet.

“Regardlesss of the clients goals, our services are designed to meet them where they are and help guide them toward a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.” said Kelly Mank, Salt Spa Wellness owner.

She said that the most significant aspect of Salt Spa Wellness is the intentional environment they’ve created, one that blends holistic wellness with personalized care in a spa-like setting.

“What truly sets us apart is how we bring multiple modalities together under one roof, allowing guests to create their own customized wellness experience, whether they’re coming for one service or combining several into a self-care day,” Mank said. “While other businesses may offer individual services like floating or salt rooms, few offer the full range of modalities we do, including Float Therapy, Halotherapy (Salt Room and Salt Cave), Infrared Halosauna, and Aqua Massage, in a thoughtfully designed space built specifically for rest, recovery, and healing.”

According to Mank, beyond the services themselves, what distinguishes Salt Spa Wellness is its philosophy.

“We focus on education, empowerment, and comfort,” she said. “For many of our guests, it’s their first time trying a salt therapy service, and we take pride in guiding them through the process, so they feel informed, supported, and completely at ease. Our space is clean, modern, and intentionally designed to help people unplug, breathe deeply, and feel better. Ultimately, our goal isn’t just to offer a service, it’s to help people reconnect with themselves, manage stress, support their physical and emotional health, and leave feeling better than when they arrived. That’s the heart of Salt Spa Wellness.”

Mank said that one of the biggest misconceptions about the business is that it’s just a luxury or “pampering” spa experience.

“While our space is beautiful and relaxing, what we offer goes much deeper, our services are grounded in wellness, recovery, and real therapeutic benefit,” she said. “Float therapy, halotherapy, and infrared sessions aren’t just for relaxation; they support mental health, pain relief, respiratory wellness, and more. Once people understand the science, and feel the difference themselves, they realize it’s not a splurge, it’s a form of self-care with lasting impact.”

Salt Spa Wellness Manager Kaila Mank says the business takes great pride in offering high-quality, evidence-based wellness services in a setting that’s peaceful, clean, and deeply restorative.

“Every element from our float tanks and halotherapy rooms to our infrared halosauna and aqua massage systems has been carefully selected to provide therapeutic benefits while ensuring maximum comfort and privacy for our guests,” she said. “We maintain the highest standards for cleanliness, sanitation, and equipment upkeep, and we’re committed to creating a calm, supportive environment where every guest feels welcome and cared for. Our team is passionate about helping people discover what wellness means for them, whether it’s managing stress, reducing pain, or simply finding time to relax. Many of our initial clients have shared that they’ve found relief from anxiety, improved sleep, reduced pain, and even faster recovery from injuries thanks to our services. Our goal is not just to provide a service and experience, it’s to provide healing, restoration, and a lasting sense of well-being.”

For further details about Salt Spa Wellness visit www.SaltSpaWellness.com to take advantage of their grand opening specials. Find them on Facebook and Instagram under SaltSpaWellness. <

Friday, November 15, 2024

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. <

Friday, February 2, 2024

Business Spotlight: Sebago Fiber

For many living in rural communities around Sebago Lake, internet service is spotty at best. But Sebago Fiber, a local, family-owned company, is striving to change that by providing reliable, fast fiber internet service to homes and businesses in the region.

Andrew Davis is passionate about
providing reliable, fast fiber internet
service to homes and businesses
in the Sebago Lakes Region and 
owns Sebago Fiber serving towns 
and communities in the area.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
   
Offering vital internet services to those that are currently unserved or underserved, Sebago Fiber takes a different approach by working directly with local towns and building its service in phases in areas where there is the most demand. Larger telecommunications companies don’t have a financial incentive to do that because the cost of updating the infrastructure is too high in rural towns with small populations and potential profits for them are too low.

“Being able to bring something as necessary as reliable internet service to people as a small local business is vitally important,” said Brandie Shydo, Sebago Fiber’s Director of Marketing and Community Engagement. “We offer excellent customer service and make it simple for customers by offering support services by email and comprehensive online account access. We don't require customers to wait on the phone for hours or visit an office to get help if they need it.”

Shydo said Sebago Fiber’s internet services are more reliable than cable or DSL and the company proactively monitors its systems as well as its customers' services so they can respond quickly if there is an issue. Its technicians and support staff all live and work locally.

Because the company is small, it’s able to provide simple transparent pricing, making cutting the cord from big cable easy and offering freedom of choice for television and phone services. Alternative services often come at a lower cost while still providing desired functionality such as DVR services.

Company owner Andrew Davis said that Sebago Fiber’s mission is to provide fast, reliable internet to its neighbors.

“Our pricing is generally competitive with other services,” he said. “We do not offer ‘introductory’ or promotional pricing that will sharply increase in 12 to 24 months “Our pricing is transparent and published online, so it's easy to understand what you're getting and how much you'll pay.”

When Davis began spending summers on Frye Island, he came to realize that working from home there would be virtually impossible because of the lack of quality internet service. He investigated working with the existing service providers to improve service, but they were uninterested. Having a technical and software background, Davis decided to start Sebago Fiber. The company was able to build out services that cover 100 percent of Frye Island in just two years with 94 percent coverage in one year, beating its initial goal of 60 percent in three years.

“We build our systems for reliability. Light traveling over fiber does not have the limits of copper telephone or cable networks,” Davis said. “Fiber is not susceptible to every power fluctuation in a storm causing power surges down the lines and frying the cable modem. We build our systems with reliable backup battery and generator power. Two thirds of internet customers on Frye Island have switched to Sebago Fiber from their previous provider. Our customers' only complaint is that they can no longer blame a bad internet connection for not being able to work remotely in Maine.”

Sebago Fiber serves Frye Island and is expanding to the towns surrounding Sebago Lake including Sebago, Naples, Standish, Raymond, Casco, and Windham in the White’s Bridge Road area and north of there.

Davis said Sebago Fiber is currently conducting a survey to gauge interest about where to expand next.

“If you want reliable fiber internet, please complete our online survey at SebagoFiber.net/lake so our company and your town know the area with the most interest,” he said. “Where we build next is based upon community response. We’ll go where the interest is. If you want a better alternative service, go take the survey.”

The company has been in business since 2021 and its leadership team is four people covering engineering, support, billing, and customer service. It also has four field service technicians. Shydo said openings are available for full and part time positions for additional field technicians and support staff to be hired in the local Sebago Lake region.

For more information about Sebago Fiber, visit www.sebagofiber.net, send an email to info@sebagofiber.net, or call 207-544-6811 or find them on Facebook under SebagoFiberWiFi. <

Friday, February 3, 2023

Nonprofit Spotlight: Health Choice Maine

<Paid Advertising>

Health Choice Maine is working to restore and protect medical choice in Maine and strives to help people find the support they need.

A statewide nonprofit organization under the umbrella of American Citizens for Health Choice, the Health Choice Maine organization offers advocacy services for supporters and Mainers that are navigating complicated situations stemming from vaccine-related issues.

According to Tiffany Kreck of Health Choice Maine, some issues that the organization has assisted with include assisting Mainers that have suffered an adverse event related to the COVID-19 vaccine, schools that she said ignore sections of the immunization law and attempt to discharge students out of compliance, pediatrics offices that have lost vaccination records, and students that have legitimate, lawful medical exemptions that are being denied by schools.

“We also provide resources, and make as much data available as possible, to facilitate informed decisions by individuals and families,” Kreck said. “We work to build relationships with lawmakers to support good policy and oppose bad policy. We also host an array of events to support community building and resource development.”

Overall, Kreck said that Health Choice Maine endeavors to dispel the hyperbole that surrounds this topic in order to facilitate healthy conversation about vaccination based upon real science and fact.

She said what distinguishes Health Choice Maine from other organizations is two-fold.

“We operate within strict principles of honesty and integrity. While other organizations have often become self-serving, or unsupportive, we have maintained a safer community in which people can find the help they need,” Kreck said. “Our supporters span political divides, religious ideologies, and is rich in diversity and experience. We are Mainers of many backgrounds, brought together by a similar experience, that have bonded to create support for one another.”

She said Health Choice Maine is proud of its hard work and success in retaining legal counsel, not only to take on the legal fights that few others will, but also so that supporters have access to legal advice, when they otherwise wouldn’t have.

Health Choice Maine services are 100 percent supported by Mainers that believe in this cause, and believe in the work that Health Choice Maine does, Kreck said.

“We aren't what most people think we are. We don't want vaccines done away with,” she said. “We just want acknowledgment and support for the injured, and we want folks to have the space they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. It really is just that simple.”

She said Health Choice Maine continues to grow and build more support across the state over time.

“If people didn't believe in what we do, and didn't value our efforts, we wouldn't be funded. Our donors aren't wealthy backers, they are families like mine, and yours, that have prioritized us into their budgets,” Kreck said. “We have also never really advertised before, most of the people that seek us out with questions, or in need of help, have found us by word of mouth.”

The organization doesn’t have traditional staff, it’s made up of volunteers from across Maine.

“Our leadership team consists of six individuals, and we have a supporting advisory board made up of five more professionals in related fields and we continue to grow,” Kreck said. “In addition to this, we have almost two dozen active volunteers across the state, and we currently have almost 4,000 members in Maine.”

She said that Health Choice Maine volunteers are constantly monitoring any vaccine-related legislation or rule change actions being taken and also monitor and review all new studies, while constantly updating data regarding complex legal developments and other situations that are important with regard to vaccination issues.

“The most important issue that people need to be taking notice of, of course, is the COVID vaccine safety signals, not only the developing concerns with the safety, but also the unseen concerns,” Kreck said. “There is a lot of confusion, misinformation, and political polarization regarding this issue, and that's unfortunate because it's the everyday person that suffers as a result. With post-market safety monitoring, accurate reporting is paramount."

To reach Health Choice Maine, call 207-801-0227 or visit Healthchoicemaine.org. Find them on Facebook and Instagram under Health Choice Maine. <

Friday, February 25, 2022

Business Spotlight: Jar Cannabis Co.

Jar Cannabis Co. employees made history this week when they opened Windham’s first Adult-Use retail cannabis store at 11 Storm Drive.
Back in January 2019, Jar opened its first medical marijuana retail store in Windham and ever since, their focus remains on delivering personalized and attentive service to customers and continuing to offer products of quality and value.

“We are 100 percent Maine-owned, providing a positive and exciting workplace for our staff, and quality cannabis for customers,” said Joel Pepin, Jar Cannabis Co. co-founder and manager. “We start by putting meticulous effort into growing cannabis in our clean, top-tier facility. We then test and verify our products to ensure accurate dosing. We proudly do all of this in full compliance with local and state regulations.”

Jar Cannabis Co. employs a staff of 70 and Pepin said employees are knowledgeable, professional, courteous and take pride in their work.

“We all realize that we’re doing this at a time when the social stigma of cannabis is shifting,” he said. “In just a short period of time, cannabis companies are now one of Maine’s largest industries.”

Their new Adult-Use store for ages 21 and over opened on Wednesday, Feb. 23, but Pepin emphasized that Jar’s business is multi-faceted, and they will continue to give those using their medical marijuana store the utmost in support and attention as they have come to rely on. The existing medical storefront will continue to operate alongside the new Adult-Use store. 

Adults 21+ are invited to stop by
Jar Co.'s new Adult-Use retail store
at 11 Storm Drive in Windham.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
“Our mission is to provide our customers with an experience at JAR Cannabis Co. that is both personable and comfortable,” said co-owner Adam Platz. “We are not absent owners. We care about the quality of our work and strive for all our customers to have a great experience. We believe that our hard work is what makes our product what it is and retains our customer loyalty.”

Platz said JAR’s team of cultivators and retail employees establish and maintain genuine, professional relationships with customers and patients. 

“We take a holistic approach to wellness and believe that cannabis and the great outdoors is what it’s all about,” he said.

Platz says staying up to date regarding the state’s ever-changing cannabis rules and regulations is not an easy task, but one the business has been able to navigate successfully.

“The real challenge is that this industry is maturing quickly,” he said. “The shifting markets and state laws are one thing but like anything it’s also challenging managing other human beings. We’re proud of what we’ve done so far in building this business.”

According to Pepin, JAR products are cultivated using innovative and organic technologies with an emphasis on quality and consistency.

“Our flower is pesticide free, mold free, devoid of heavy metals, and has been lab tested to the highest standard, he said. “From watering our plants to selling product at our storefronts, our cultivation, operations, and retail teams pay extra attention to every detail to make sure that every JAR Co. product that hits the market is our best-foot-forward. At JAR Co., we ultimately strive to create cannabis products that our customers can trust.”

JAR Co. offers pure and effective cannabis in the form of flower, concentrates, edibles, and CBD products, including tinctures, capsules, lotions, salves, drinks, and lip balms. It is a one-stop-shop where Pepin says that there is genuinely something for everyone.

“Our key to operating a successful business starts with vertical integration and includes the cultivation, extraction and retail aspects,” Pepin said. “We are from Maine; we’re not some out-of-state corporation, and we control our business from seed to the final sale. We care about the quality of our products, and we care about this community.”

The hours for JAR’s Adult-Use retail cannabis store in Windham is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.

For additional information, visit JAR Cannabis Co. online at https://jarcannabis.com/ or find them on Instagram or Facebook at Jar Cannabis Co. <


Friday, June 18, 2021

Business Spotlight: Swift River Roasters

If you think about it, coffee connects a community in so many unique ways, linking us to each other over a cup, enlivening our taste buds and our senses, and fostering an appreciation of nature, where coffee beans are grown and harvested. Raymond’s Swift River Roasters launched in 2010 in conjunction with The Good Life Market and continues to build a solid reputation for roasting top quality green beans from around the world into delicious brews to fill local coffee cups.    

Swift River Roasters’ roasting facility is on Roosevelt Trail in Raymond with retail coffee and coffee drinks available right next door at the company’s flagship store, The Good Life Market, 1297 Roosevelt Trail, as well as at many other local locations.

“We small batch roast our coffee every week, so the product going out to our customers is super fresh,” said Linda Manchester, Swift River Roasters co-owner. “In addition to our wide range of standard offerings of single origin coffees, proprietary blends, and flavored coffees, we do private labeling for local markets, and we’ve worked with wholesale customers to develop custom blends to their unique tastes.”

Manchester said that Swift River Roasters has recently partnered with PFG Northcenter as a wholesale distributor, which allows them to serve a broader base of restaurants and retail establishments.

“In the Lakes Region, we’re available at The Good Life Market, Mills and Co., The Umbrella Factory, Windham Hannaford, Kelly’s Sebago Diner, Knight’s Cafe Naples, Chipman’s Farmstand Raymond, Standish Café, and Chutes' Cafe Casco. We ship wholesale and retail coffee directly to customers all over the country; we roast for a coffee company in Nashville, Tennessee, and for a medical software design company in Scottsdale, Arizona,” Manchester said. “PFG Northcenter distributes our coffee throughout Maine and New Hampshire, and we deliver directly to retail establishments throughout Southern Maine.”

Manchester said that the slogan for Swift River Roasters is “We’re here for you,” and that truly epitomizes the company’s basic business philosophy in every sense.  

“Swift River is top quality, delicious, no nonsense coffee that’s locally roasted, packaged and distributed, and we’re available all over the Lakes Region,” she said. “If we're not in your neighborhood, let us know and we’ll see how we can fix that. We’re responsive to our customers and to our staff. We’re dedicated to quality and consistency; we all drink our coffee every day, so we’re in constant contact with the product. We’re available locally in many different locations and we’re willing and eager to expand and grow our brand into other markets.”

According to Manchester, wholesale coffee roasting is the most significant aspect of the Swift River Roasters business.

“We’re focused on seeing our coffee represented widely in the marketplace. We roast high quality coffee, produce distinctive blends, and sell them at a great value,” she said. “We’re sized right to continue to offer our wholesale customers personalized service and support. We’re fortunate to be in a market where craft coffee roasting is established, and consumers are savvy about what they taste.  Mainers love coffee, and that means good business for all of us in the industry.”

Offering an exceptional quality product is paramount to Swift River  Roasters and that starts where the coffee beans are grown.

“We source our beans through an importer who works with different coffee growing countries,” Manchester said. “We follow the trends in the coffee world through the publications and conferences of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, and through networking with others in the industry.  We strive to stay up to date, but also down to earth; just like our mindset at The Good Life Market, our goal is for our coffee to be exceptional but approachable. We’re very hands-on with the business and with our customers, making sure that our coffee is well received and a successful product for our retailers.”

“Our coffee represents a great value in the marketplace, and our pricing is quite competitive. As with any international agricultural crop, coffee pricing is affected by weather and the political landscape, but we strive to keep the cost to the customer consistent and accessible,” Manchester said.

For wholesale inquiries about Swift River Roasters, call 207-655-3243; for retail inquiries, call 207-655-1196.  They also ship directly through their website www.swiftrivercoffee.com and you can follow them on Facebook or Instagram @swiftrivercoffeeroasters <