SCORES & OUTDOORS: Unexpected visitor to camp explains about invasive insects

Clockwise, from top left, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, and Browntail moth caterpillar.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

We received a visitor at camp last week. A member of the Maine Forest Service appeared to pass on some information to us about the threat of invasive insects, and to educate us on what to look for.

First was the Asian Longhorned Beetle. The ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a wood boring beetle native to Asia. It attacks, and eventually kills, healthy hardwood trees, including maple, birch, poplar, willow, elm and others.

It was first discovered in the United States in 1996 in Brooklyn, New York, and has since been found in New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, as well as Toronto, Canada. It has yet to be found in Maine, and has been eradicated from Illinois, New Jersey, parts of New York and Canada.

It is thought to have been transported into North America through solid wood packing materials from Asia.

What to look for: Round to oval pockmarks in the bark where an adult female has chewed a depression to lay an egg. Round holes 3/8-inch in diameter on the trunk or branches where the adult beetles emerge. You can insert a pencil at least an inch into an exit hole; and sawdust-like material which the beetle larvae push out as it feeds in the tree.

These insects are usually active from August to October.

The next one is the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis. It was first detected in Michigan in 2002. Evidence suggests that the beetle was established for years prior to its discovery. EAB has since been found in many states, and also in Ontario and Québec, Canada. In addition to spreading by natural means, EAB can be transported to new areas in infested firewood, timber and nursery stock. This beetle has been responsible for the loss of millions of ash trees in North America.

New infestations are difficult to detect, as damage to the tree may not be apparent for up to three years. Symptoms of an infestation can include branch dieback in the upper crown, excessive epicormic branching on the tree trunk, and vertical bark splits. Woodpecker damage is sometimes apparent.

The Emerald Ash Borer is not to be confused with the six-spotted green tiger beetle, which we covered in this column a few weeks ago (The Town Line, Aug. 1, 2019). They are very similar in appearance, but the six-spotted green tiger beetle is a predator of small insects and is frequently found on hiking trails.

Do not move firewood or bring it from home if you’re going on a camping trip. If you brought firewood from home, don’t leave it, burn it!

The third one was the browntail moth. It is an invasive species found only on the coast of Maine and Cape Cod. I don’t know how far inland is considered the coast, but I have seen this caterpillar at our camp, as recently as this past weekend, even though it is supposed to be active only from April to late June. The moth is an insect of both forest and human health concerns.

The browntail moth caterpillar has tiny poisonous hairs that cause dermatitis similar to poison ivy on sensitive individuals, similar to that of the Hickory tussock caterpillar (the white caterpillar with black hairs).

People may develop dermatitis from direct contact with the caterpillar or indirectly from contact with airborne hairs. Most people affected by the hairs develop a localized rash that will last for a few hours up to several days, but on some sensitive individuals the rash can be severe and last for several weeks. Respi­ratory distress from inhaling the hairs can be serious. The hairs remain toxic throughout the summer but get washed into the soil and are less of a problem over time.

The browntail moth arrived in Somerville, Massachusetts, circa 1890, and becoming widespread there and in neighboring Cambridge by 1897. Initial outbreaks were most evident in pear and apple trees. Within a few years it was seen as a serious, fast-spreading, horticultural and health problem. Through the early parts of the 20th century it was present in much of New England from eastern Connecticut to Maine, and northward into New Brunswick, Canada, but the 1906 introduction of the parasitic tachnid fly Compsilura concinnata to counter Gypsy moths collaterally impacted brown-tail moths. By the late 20th century the habitat was reduced to the coast and islands of Maine, and also parts of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Cold and wet weather hinders re-expansion of the population outside its current territories, although starting in 2015 there has been a population spike and territory expansion in coastal Maine, from Portland to Bar Harbor.

If you think you have found some of these, contact the State Department of Agriculture, State Forestry or Natural Resource Agency, Cooperative Extension Office, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or the Forest Service.

Roland’s trivia question of the month:

Tom Brady has been named Super Bowl MVP four times. Name the other two New England Patriots players to have also captured the award.

Answer can be found here.

Vaping may put you at greater risk to contract the flu

by Nancy Bostrom

If you think vaping is bad for your heart and your lungs, a new study shows it can also up your chances of getting the flu, especially if you are a woman.

As we enter the official flu season, local doctors with American Family Care (AFC) are warning patients about the health dangers of vaping as well as other habits that could put you at a higher risk of picking up flu infested germs over the next few months.

WHY VAPING INCREASES YOUR CHANCES….

Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reveals puffing on an e-cigarette disrupts your normal immune response to viral infections, like flu. The study also concluded that vaping really can take a toll on a woman’s immune system.

A study that appears in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) found e-cigarette vapors can trigger substantial inflammation in the lungs making them more likely to get infected by bacteria or viruses like the flu.

The CDC has issued a health advisory encouraging medical providers to educate patients about an escalating outbreak of severe lung disease. Federal health investigators are looking into at least 450 possible breathing illnesses associated with vaping, including five deaths.

“These studies and all the recent reports of vaping related respiratory illnesses across the country, amplify the dangers of e-cigarette use during flu season. The red flags continue to pop up, vaping is a health hazard and doing it this time of year puts you at high risk to catch the flu,” says Dr. Benjamin Barlow, chief medical officer of American Family Care, a national healthcare network with a local medical facility. “The number one defense during flu season is getting a flu vaccine, but you also need to avoid habits, like vaping, that can up your chances of getting the flu.”

OTHER HABITS TO AVOID DURING FLU SEASON

Going Low Carb – Ditching bread and certain fruits is at the center of several low carb diets, but whole grains are good for your gut during flu season. Rice, oats and buckwheat can build healthy bacteria in your stomach. Research by the American Physiological Society concluded a substance found in fruit and vegetables called quercetin reduced the likelihood of flu in mice.

Doing It All – If you are starting to feel sick, don’t try to be a superhero and do it all. No one wants to be exposed to your germs. Stay home from either work or school and don’t even run errands like to the drug store to get medicine. When you have a fever, you should always stay home at least 24 hours AFTER your fever is gone.

Stressing Out – A heavy load at work or school can create a mountain of daily challenges. When you let stress take over, you are more susceptible to getting sick. A study by Carnegie Mellon University found long-term stress could weaken someone’s ability to fight infection.

AFC physicians advise it’s also important to take a few everyday preventive measures to boost your chances of avoiding the flu.

5 HABITS THAT HELP YOU AVOID THE FLU

  1. Avoid sharing pens. Whether at work or signing a credit card receipt at a store, never pick up a public pen because they’re covered with other people’s germs. Keep a pen handy for any situation that could pop up.
  2. Knuckle it. When using a debit card machine, get into the habit of punching in your card pin with a knuckle instead of a fingertip. This way if you rub your eye or mouth with your fingertip, you’re not transferring germs.
  3. Play it safe at the pump. Drivers must get gas for their vehicles no matter what, sick or not. Protect yourself at the pump, grab a paper towel before picking up the gas nozzle. You can also use the paper towel as a barrier when punching in your debit/credit card info.
  4. Shake and Wash. People are more germ-conscious these days so avoiding a handshake is not as rude as once thought, especially during flu season. If you must do it, wash or sanitize with your hands immediately.
  5. Hands off, please! You are constantly using either your phone or computer tablet to show friends and coworkers pictures or videos. This means other people are putting their germs on something you are constantly touching. Get into the habit of wiping your phone down with a disinfecting wipe to cut down on spreading germs. OR just text your friends photos and videos!

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, September 12, 2019

To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@fairpoint.net!

MOTHER & CHILD: A mother loon feeding her young, as captured by the camera of Michael Bilinsky, of China Village.

CHINA LAKE SUNSET: Michael Bilinsky, of China, captured this beautiful sunset over China Lake recently.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Fact or Fiction?

by Debbie Walker

Well, yes, I have been reading again and would like to share what I learned. I was reading a Reader’s Digest, dated February 2019. The article was written by Marisa Laliberte and two others. First, we are going to do Facts:

Dinosaurs had feathers – archaeologists found evidence of some of them having feathers.

Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins can. Dolphins need air after 10 minutes. A swimming sloth can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes.

Chicago isn’t called the Windy City because of its weather. The title was meant as an insult to the elites of the city, meaning they were full of hot air.

A woman was elected to Congress before women’s suffrage. Jeannette Rankin was sworn in in 1917 and women weren’t allowed to vote until 1920.

Dunce cap has been around since the 13th century. John Duns Scoutus believed the cone shape of the cap would funnel knowledge to his brain. After it lost it’s followers things turned around and it was looked at as a joke. Duns = dunce.

Astronauts can cry in space. They can cry but with no gravity the tears pools into a ball on their cheeks. Astronaut Chris Hadfield says no-flow crying “stings a bit.”

After World War II was over there was a shortage of chocolate in Italy. Pietro Ferrero knew his Italians would still crave chocolate. He came up with their chocolate fix answer. He created Nutella to stretch the limited supply of chocolate.

CIA have their own top-secret coffee shop called Starbucks. It’s in Langley, Virginia. The attendants aren’t allowed to write customers names on their orders because some of them are under cover folks. The stores name is not even on their receipt, this one is Store No. 1.

Dorothy’s ruby red shoes for The Wizard of Oz originally started out as “silver shoes.” The new films in Technicolor needed something a bit showier. Ta-Da = Ruby Red shoes.

You can’t hum while holding your nose. Quit trying, you look funny! You might have been able to get out a note or two but good luck with a full song. Why anyone would want to anyway would be my first question. How about you?

How about some “Fiction” information?

Blood is blue inside the body as you see in your veins through the skin. FALSE. It is red inside and out. It all has to do with the light absorbed through the skin. It is red, inside and out.

Paul Revere shouted, “The British Are Coming”. Nope. Only in Longfellow’s poem. No one knows what or if Paul Revere said anything.

Factoid is a fun mini-fact. Not. It’s the opposite. Norman Maller came up with the term. He was describing “fact” that were invented by gossip reporters. The suffix “oid” refers to something that appears like something else but is not.

Neanderthals were dumb. They were probably just as intelligent, but scientists think they didn’t fare well when the animals they hunted died out after the Ice Age.

Okay now I am just curious how many of you are going to question some of these pieces of Fact or Fiction. Remember I am only passing on things I read and wanted to share!

As usual you can reach me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. I’ll be waiting. Thanks for reading and enjoy your week!

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Green Mountain Country

Calvin Coolidge

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Green Mountain Country

“He got up at seven as usual, and he and his wife had breakfast together. At half past eight he went to his office in the town. His old friend and partner was already there when he entered. They were both early risers. They spoke with each other for a moment and then he went to his desk.

“He was not feeling quite well. He said nothing about it. He had no idea that this was his last day of life. ”

Clarence Day

The above two paragraphs introduce In the Green Mountain Country, a five-page essay, by Clarence Day (1874-1935), on the sudden death, funeral and burial of former President, Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) on January 5 and 6, 1933. It has a power and immediacy that makes it worth reading and going back to. Day wrote two books he is most famous for – Life With Father and God and My Father, both of them about his own father, a very domineering patriarch who was very set in his ways; they are also very funny, as were most of his other writings, unlike this rare example of Day on a serious level.

More about the writer and Coolidge can wait for later weeks. Other selected details include:

  • By 10 a.m., he didn’t feel any better and asked his secretary, a Mr. Ross, to go home with him.
  • Coolidge’s wife had gone shopping.
  • He played with a jigsaw puzzle.
  • He had been rarely sick in his life.
  • He was thirsty and went to get a glass of water.
  • He spoke to the gardner in the basement.
  • He went upstairs to shave and dropped dead.

The highest officials in the country came to the funeral, including President Herbert Hoover and his wife, and mulitudes of others. They had been living in Northhampton, Massachusetts, for 30 years, Coolidge being a lawyer, Govenor of Massachusetts, Vice-President under Warren G. Harding, and then President, after Harding’s death in 1923 until 1929. His body was driven in a hearse to his hometown, Plymouth, Vermont, for burial next to his son, Calvin Jr., who died at the age of 15, in 1924, from blood poisoning, due to a blister on his foot from playing tennis.

His wife held back her tears the entire time in public until the burial and then was crying with intense sorrow as the coffin was lowered into the grave. She lived another 25 years until 1958.

Needless to say, one very eloquent example of daily newspaper journalism.

The very short book with the essay and same title is available through vendors listed on the Internet site, Bookfinder.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Breathe easier

(NAPSI)—Many people may be surprised to learn that some things used to keep their homes looking good and feeling fresh—scented candles, air fresheners, cleaning products, paint, furniture—actually contribute to indoor air pollution.

The Problem

These items—and many others—produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which, the EPA says, can irritate skin, eyes, noses and throats and cause headaches, nausea and dizziness. Extended exposure, the EPA warns, can even cause asthma, liver, kidney and nervous system damage.

Some Answers

Fortunately, you can reduce your exposure. Here’s how:

  • Improve your ventilation.
  • Store products containing VOCs outdoors.
  • Seal surfaces containing dangerous compounds.
  • Keep your HVAC air ducts clean.

Indoor air gets pulled into the system and contaminants can build up in the ductwork. Getting your air ducts properly cleaned can improve the ventilation throughout your home and lessen the number of pollutants in the air you breathe.

Be sure the duct cleaning company is a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). They pledge to a Code of Conduct and clean according to strict standards.

Learn More

For further facts, see www.BreathingClean.com. To find a NADCA member nearby, visit the Find a Professional Directory there.

SOLON & BEYOND: Dead River not given its due

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, my friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

Since I didn’t have any recent news, I decided to write about way Beyond with this poem written by a person who lived up in the Dead River area, about the flooding of Flagstaff and Dead River. It is taken from an Old clipping entitled Today’s Poem called Spirit of Dead River.

Beneath Mt. Bigelow’s lofty peak There lies a peaceful valley Dead River is the name of which I speak Tho it’s mentioned in news just rarely. Along the winding river and road have been the homes of many who lived and toiled under a heavy load while trying to save a penny. Around this spot, fond memories cling of days and events long past….. But unlike many another nice thing, They were too good to last. Years ago, they began to say( Thus spilling the word around) That there might be a dam some day to flood out all this ground. And so these Dead River folks have had to live and toil while thinking about and jokes of being driven from their soil. The day is surely drawing nigh when this valley will be no more; To old landmarks we must say goodbye—As we settle on another shore. From all the news you’ve heard and read by talk and radio or press It seems to be mostly Flagstaff that is suffering any distress. It’s just as hard and just as sad for Dead River folks to leave as those who live in Flagstaff; We all have cause to grieve. Of everything held dear to us we count our Flagstaff friends tho leaving them will be hard, we must. As each heart with sadness bends. Mt. Bigelow will still hold sway after the man-made lake has filled It’s lofty peak in majestic way will keep people thrilled. Wouldn’t “Mt. Bigelow Lake” be an appropriate name or maybe “Dead River Lake” in this land of fish and game? Dead River valley will hold and make the man-made body of water yet they want to call it Flagstaff Lake. Do you think they really oughtter?

The ancient clipping states that Elfred Russell wrote the above poem. I would really like to know how many of you would agree with his choice. As I remember, he was quite old when he wrote the poem, so I don’t believe he could still be alive (although I am living proof that people born up in that neck of the woods live a long time!).

He is right, Dead River folks and their feelings about the whole episode of driving us from our homes and land has not been mentioned as much as Flagstaff, and I apologize! The whole of those last days living up there with all the fires surrounding us, and knowing we had to find homes elsewhere was very upsetting to say the least! No one can know unless they have experienced it.

Another one of my saved clippings tells more about the beginning of the dam in Dead River. Preliminary work, including road building and clearing of timberland, was in progress today on the giant Dead River water storage project, Central Maine Power Company President William F. Wyman, said.

The W. H. Hinman Company, of North Anson, is building a road from The Stratton-Dead River road to the spot at Long Falls where the major dam will be built.

Actual construction of the dam will not begin before 1949, Wyman said. The $4,800,000 dam will create a new lake near to and larger than the big lakes in the Rangeley chain, and will provide another fishing area for New England sportsmen.

And so for Percy’s memoir: I don’t say embrace trouble. That’s as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say meet it as a friend, for you’ll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it.

GARDEN WORKS: Pickles anyone? Nothing beats old-fashioned pickles

Mmmm… Homemade pickles!

Emily Catesby Emily Cates

Pickles are a fabulous way of capturing the essence of the late-summer harvest and preserving it for culinary enjoyment well after the season is over. In times past, pickled vegetables were an important staple for many cultures. Without the use of modern canning equipment, pickling was done the old fashioned way by lacto-fermentation. Even today, the art and traditions of preparing these delicious foods this way has continued in many ethnic groups and in families who prefer this method.

Most folks today are only familiar with pickles that are canned with vinegar and sugar. Unless we have Old-World grandparents who kept a crock full of fermenting vegetables in the cellar, the concept of lacto-fermentation may be foreign to us. What exactly is lacto-fermentation? In its simplest form, it is a process of utilizing the culture of lactobacilli to create an acidic environment in which the food ferments and is preserved. Bacteria which cause spoilage are unable to proliferate in the lactic acid and in the presence of acid-loving bacteria.

A similar process is used to make other foods that are familiar to us, such as yogurt, vinegar, and sourdough bread. Pickling cucumbers, sauerkraut cabbage, and dilly beans are well-known pickling vegetables, but did you know almost every vegetable can be pickled? And did you know that in some places like Scandinavia and the Arctic Circle, foods we might not associate with or recommend being pickled, like meat and fish, are fermented? If you would like to read in depth about lacto-fermentation and try some incredible recipes, the books I have found most helpful are Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz, and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. There are occasionally lacto-fermenting workshops at MOFGA to help learn the art hands-on. Dive in and get cultured!

So why bother going through the trouble of making old fashioned pickles? One taste is all you need to be convinced. Of course, if you are pregnant and are having a pickle-craving phase, these really hit the spot. And in addition to their excelling culinary qualities, lacto-fermented vegetables are loaded with beneficial microorganisms and nutrients unlocked by the fermentation process. These pickles may help with digestion and provide valuable enzymes missing in modern diets. Like a mad scientist, the pickle-maker experiences the awe and wonder of seeing vegetables, water, and salt being transformed into a bubbling elixir of life. Partaking of these deliciously transformed vegetables releases feelings of joy and satisfaction of having perpetuated a rare and ancient art of food preservation. Still weary of trying this at home? Here are some hints: Next time you are at the natural food store pick up a jar of “Real Pickles” and see if you like them. Reserve the liquid to pour into the crock if you start a batch of homemade pickles. This gives the microorganisms a jump-start and helps to ensure a better chance of pickling success. A handful of grape leaves will keep the pickles nice and crunchy, whether you make them the modern or old fashioned way. And don’t forget to add fresh garden herbs to make an especially memorable batch.

The equipment to make pickles is surprisingly simple. The fermentation vessel can be a crock, a clean food-grade plastic pail, glass canning jars, or anything similar. There is no need for expensive equipment, though brand-new crocks can be obtained from outfits such as Lehman’s at a premium price. My vessel of choice for pickling is the removable crock from a slow-cooker. They are oftentimes in abundance when the cooker part no longer works and the whole unit is discarded. Then the crock part is the best part! Look for these at lawn sales, thrift shops, and even the swap shed at the dump. Friends and family are always eager to get rid of spare and no longer useful crock pots, and I am happy to oblige. Antique crocks that your grandparents used are not advisable, since they may contain lead. So, to be safe, stick with newer vessels. And make sure all equipment is clean and veggies are sound, fresh, washed, and scrubbed.

There are different versions of lacto-fermenting vegetables, some perhaps better than the ones I have experience with, though the following basic method has been successful for me. Don’t be afraid to experiment with what works for you with materials you have on hand. Fresh vegetables are placed whole or in pieces into a crock, mixed with a ratio of 3 tablespoons for every 5 lb veggies with non-iodized sea or pickling salt, and covered with pure, un-chlorinated water and cheesecloth. The cheesecloth and veggies are weighted under the water with a heavy dish or some kind of weight, and covered tightly around the top rim of the crock with another cheesecloth or lid to keep out dust and insects. If you use a lid, make sure it’s not airtight so that the fermentation gasses have room to escape. The crock is placed at room temperature during the initial, most active phase of fermentation, and then moved to a cool but not freezing place for long-term storage. Try tasting the pickles after three days if the room temperature was above 75-80 degrees, a while longer if it was cooler. Successful pickles will be zesty and have a bite to them. To save crock space, I remove pickles from the crock that taste nice and tangy and which are fermented. I place them into clean, wide-mouthed quart canning jars, cover them with brine, and store them in the fridge, checking the batches occasionally. A well-preserved batch can last for months and sometimes years.

Nature does most of the work, but it is important to check on the crock daily while fermentation is vigorous. Sometimes a batch will really get going and overflow the crock, so be prepared just in case this happens. If a film forms on the top, simply skim it off by lifting the cheesecloth from out of the brine. Rinse the cheesecloth thoroughly, and then return to the crock. If the batch goes bad, you will know. Oh my, will you ever, and your neighbors, too! Compare your batch to the lacto-fermented pickles from the natural food store if you are unsure of the success of a batch. Surface mold will not affect what is under the brine, but a batch that went bad is unmistakably foul. As long as the ph of the crock’s contents is acidic, harmful and spoiling bacteria are not supposed to grow. If ever in doubt, send a questionable batch to the compost. It makes sense to pickle in small batches so if you get a bad one, only a part of the hard-earned harvest will be discarded. Keeping records will help to determine what is behind success or failure.

Making old-fashioned pickles, along with winemaking and cheese-making, is truly an art. If the first time is less than successful, don’t give up! When you succeed and master this art, you and your family will enjoy a delicious and healthful delicacy that one can really take pride in making.

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS: Making your small business outstanding!

Growing your businessby Dan Beaulieu
Business consultant

When running your own business, no matter what size, it is important to find ways to make your business stand out. This is especially true when your business involves working at your customers’ homes.

When it comes to being special and outstanding it’s important to remember that the devil is in the details. It’s the small things that are going to make your company special to your customers, make them remember you, and use you again and, best of all, refer you to other potential customers.

Here are six simple things you can do to make your company outstanding:

  • Look professional: No matter what your business is, when you are going to people’s homes you have to look professional. Providing company shirts, for example. Make sure that your equipment is well-maintained and up to date. Make sure your vehicles are always clean and bearing your company’s name on the doors. It will make your look professional and, most important, serious about what you do.
  • Respect the customer’s property: If you are going into the house, make sure your shoes are clean, wear shoe covers, for example, this goes a long way to assuring your customers that you are a true professional. If you are working outside, don’t leave your tools all over the place and most importantly don’t be blasting music loud enough to be bothering not only your customer but the entire neighborhood as well.
  • Always be courteous and make sure the rest of your team is as well. You might think this is a given, but it’s not always the case. I have witnessed incidents where people were loud, or rude or, worst of all in one case, where a small business actually got into an argument with the customer! Always be impeccably polite. This puts the customer at ease and makes them comfortable enough with you to keep you coming back.
  • Listen. listening is one of the most important characteristics of any great customer relationship. Listen very carefully to what you customer wants you to do. Make sure you actually hear what the customer wants. And then repeat it back to the customer to make sure you are both on the same page. In some cases, it will not hurt to actually write it down in front of the customer. These are your instructions and you will be judged on how well you fully followed those instructions.
  • Clean up after yourself. No matter what your service, always leave the property as you found it, or even better than you found it. This will be very impressive to your customers and keep them coming back.
  • Provide the extras: Offer to do more than the service you were contracted to do. Notice things that you can do for your customer. If you are there to mow the grass and you see a shrub that needs trimming and shaping, do it without being asked, if you notice that the driveway needs sweeping, do that. It’s those little things that the customer will remember about you. Make sure you “get caught” performing those extra tasks. It pays off in the end, and also can lead to more business.

And one more…follow up. Within 24 hours of completing your job contact the customer to make sure that he is fully satisfied. This will not only make a very good impression on the customer, but it will also be a good opportunity to ask for more business, or, better yet, a referral. And that’s a great way to grow your business.

Dan Beaulieu has owned his own business consulting firm since 1995, during that time he has helped hundreds of companies all over the world with their sales growth challenges and issues. Originally from Maine he returned a few years ago and is ready and willing to help his fellow Mainers start and grow their business. He can be reached at 07-649-0879 or at danbbeaulieu@aol.com.

THE MONEY MINUTE: Attention retirees! Will you outlive your money?

by Jac M. Arbour CFP®, ChFC®
President, J.M. Arbour Wealth Management

What is your largest concern about retirement? According to the Wall Street Journal, the number one fear/concern of a retiree is outliving his or her money (the second is requiring Long Term Care due to chronic illness). I have to admit, I understand both of these concerns.

According to most sources available to us today, the average amount of money a retiree has in investable assets the day he or she walks into retirement, is approximately $126,000. It is also estimated that someone retiring today will live an average of twenty five years in retirement. Couple these stats with the uncertainty one can experience in the form of market returns and it is no wonder why people are concerned about how long their money will last. So, what do you do?

In my opinion, the first thing you need to do is run the numbers and do the math. We must run our households like a business and know exactly how much is coming in and how much is going out each month. Second, take a hard look at upcoming capital expenditures and any potential changes in monthly cash flow. The idea here is to derive an accurate number as to how much money will be needed from investable assets in order to pay the bills. The smaller the amount needed, the longer your money will most likely last.

Some people have the ability to tolerate market risk and can stomach some losses when they occur. The contrary is also true. Some households cannot afford to lose five or ten percent of their account balances, never mind thirty-eight percent (which the S&P500 lost in 2008) in a single year.

What is more important to you at this point in your life: Return on Investment or … Reliability of Income? Maybe, just maybe, it is a combination of the two.

Call your advisor and ask questions that directly address your concerns. Determine your probability of success with regard to how long your money should last based on factors such as its current investment allocation and your annual withdrawal rate. Determine which safeguards should be considered and most important, which should be implemented.

Here is what I promise: When you have a clear idea about where it is you are going, it is more likely you will reach that destination.

See you all next month.

Jac Arbour CFP®, ChFC®

Jac Arbour is the President of J.M. Arbour Wealth Management and can be reached at 207-248-6767.
nvestment advisory services are offered through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.