VETERANS CORNER: Only 6% of 18.5M veterans receive disability benefits

/9 Comments/in /by

Veterans Administration facility at Togus. (Internet photo)

by Gary Kennedy

There are approximately 18.5 million veterans and only six percent have received V.A. Disability benefits. There are millions of benefits waiting to be spoken for. Every week that I write this column I should be heading for a conclusion but suredly such is not the case. Just this week I met three veterans who didn’t know the true story behind the existence of the Veterans Administration.

Togus VA is the first Veterans Center. Originally, the facility was used as a summer resort called Togus Springs. Togus Springs was established in 1859 by Horace Beals, a very wealthy granite merchant from Rockland, Maine. The name Togus comes from the Native American word “Worromontogus”, which means “Mineral Water”. I believe this time forward would place us at the very beginning of the Civil War. So, long story short, since Togus still exists, it is the oldest as well. I have watched it’s evolution for more than 55 years. The little pond of water by the hospitality house has been a special place. Once upon a time it was larger and was believed to have healing powers. It seems to me that would be an appropriate place for a healing center; and for the most part it is. Occasionally, it loses it’s way but always seems to find a way to return to it’s positive self.

Once known as Chases Acres with 1,000 acres, it was divided into half thus leaving approximately 500 acres. This in my opinion is plenty of growth room. It also has a couple of cemeteries with lots of history. Wild life abounds in this place and thrives. Occasionally, the areas wildlife has to be reduced because of over populations. However, I own some property within the confines of the original property and my wife and I enjoy it very much. We have many animal friends who know when they are not in danger. For us Togus is not only a Medical Center but a refuge for the veteran who needs aid and attendance.

Many lives have begun anew in the past 160 years. We were the first to accept women veterans. Senator Olympia Snowe was a champion in later years in this area. Many great people have walked through these gates. There is an unbelievable history in this one little area. The Winthrop library has some great literature for all of a curious heart.

If you served in the military and have some medical issues there is a very good chance that your service to your country had something to do with it, in one way or another. Many veterans that I have met with have decided they don’t qualify for help for many reasons. Some say, yes, I did this in the military but I didn’t report it or didn’t make an issue of it. They forget the big picture. When you took that physical and signed on the dotted line you entered into a two party contract. The contract basically implied that you would serve your country however needed and your country would be there for you and yours when needed. That contract extended to your family as well. Medically speaking, little things can become big things. All you need to do is remember the promise you make each other.

You can apply online, by mail, in person or by seeking out a Veterans Service Officer, (VSO). Online: apply at v.a.gov, by mail: download and complete VA form 21-526EZ and mail it to the Department of Veterans Affairs; in person: visit V.A. and seek out a (V.S.O.), Veterans Service Officer. The benefits you could likely be eligible for are Disability Compensation, Health Benefits or even a pension. If you were injured in anyway in the military you most likely have something going for you. You just need to know how to pursue it. That is why it is important to seek out a V.S.O. for advice. Don’t be afraid to do that. That is why they are there. Most of these folks are veterans themselves. Also, it’s their career and that is a paid position for them and a right to service for you. No harm will come to you and perhaps you will become pleasantly surprised at the result. Remember that contract you signed with the U.S.A.. I think you will find they are as honorable as you have been.

Thank you for your service is spoken thousands of times daily by those that genuinely appreciate you for the contribution you gave your country. The V.A.’s door is open 24 hours a day to it’s members in need. As of last September there were an estimated 17.9 million veterans in the USA. As of one year ago there were 5.27 million veterans with a service connected disability. This figures include physical and emotional disability conditions. Call 623-8411. someone is always there to answer your call. Stay safe brothers and sisters. God bless and keep you safe.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: How to Keep Your Eyes Healthy

/0 Comments/in /by

Don’t take your eyes for granted. Take these easy steps to keep your peepers healthy.

1. Eat Well

Good eye health starts with the food on your plate. Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E might help ward off age-related vision problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. To get them, fill your plate with: Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collards, salmon, tuna, and other oily fish, eggs, nuts, beans, and other nonmeat protein sources, oranges and other citrus fruits or juices, oysters and pork. A well-balanced diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight. That lowers your odds of obesity and related diseases like type 2 diabetes, which is the leading cause of blindness in adults.

2. Quit Smoking

It makes you more likely to get cataracts, damage to your optic nerve, and macular degeneration, among many other medical problems. If you’ve tried to kick the habit before only to start again, keep at it. The more times you try to quit, the more likely you are to succeed. Ask your doctor for help.

3. Wear Sunglasses

The right pair of shades will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure boosts your chances of cataracts and macular degeneration. Choose a pair that blocks 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses reduce glare while you drive, but don’t necessarily offer added protection. If you wear contact lenses, some offer UV protection. It’s still a good idea to wear sunglasses for an extra layer.

4. Look Away From the Computer Screen

Staring at a computer or phone screen for too long can cause: eye strain, blurry vision, trouble focusing at a distance, dry eyes, headaches, neck, back, and shoulder pain,

Make sure your glasses or contacts prescription is up to date and good for looking at a computer screen.

If your eye strain won’t go away, talk to your doctor about computer glasses.

Move the screen so your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. That lets you look slightly down at the screen.

Try to avoid glare from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.

Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.

If your eyes are dry, blink more or try using artificial tears.

Rest your eyes every 20 minutes. Look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Get up at least every two hours and take a 15-minute break.

5. Visit Your Eye Doctor Regularly

Everyone needs a regular eye exam, even young children. It helps protect your sight and lets you see your best.

Eye exams can also find diseases, like glaucoma, that have no symptoms. It’s important to spot them early on, when they’re easier to treat.

Depending on your eye health needs, you can see one of two types of doctors:

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye care. They can provide general eye care, treat eye diseases, and perform eye surgery.

Optometrists have had 4 years of specialized training after college. They provide general eye care and can diagnose and treat most eye diseases. They don’t do eye surgery.

A comprehensive eye exam might include:

  • Talking about your personal and family medical history
  • Vision tests to see if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, have an astigmatism (a curved cornea that blurs vision), or presbyopia (age-related vision changes)
  • Tests to see how well your eyes work together
  • Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to check for glaucoma
  • External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, August 29, 2024

/0 Comments/in /by

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

CHINA SUNSET: Susan Thiem, summer visitor to China Lake, from Corpus Christi, Texas, captured this sunset over China Lake.

RAINBOW OF ‘SHROOMS”: Emily Poulin, of China, photographed these multi-colored mushrooms.

SMILE, YOU’RE ON CAMERA: Gary Mazoki, of Palermo, snapped this red fox being vigilant while passing through.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Clark Gable, William F. Buckley Jr. & Alma Gluck

/0 Comments/in /by
Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Clark Gable

Clark Gable

Clark Gable (1901-1960) might not have achieved the same level of greatness as, for example, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Rod Steiger, George C. Scott and, among the living, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh, when it came to getting inside the skin of a range of different characters; but he had an on-screen charisma in his portrayal of the same charming, arrogant character in every film I ever saw of his.

They include Call of the Wild with Loretta Young, Soldier of Fortune with Susan Hayward, Teacher’s Pet with Doris Day, Command Decision with Van Johnson and last, but far from least, Gone with the Wind with Sir Lawrence Olivier’s then-wife Vivian Leigh; I had my first viewing of it at the long gone Winslow Drive-In during the summer of 1961.

His first appearance in the now legendary role of Rhett Butler is at the foot of the long staircase at the Tara plantation. He’s staring up at Vivian’s Scarlet O’Hara and this first eye contact sows some very turbulent seeds of ballistic romance.

One critic referred to Gable’s presence as brutally masculine. He was a man among men and hunted and fished. Yet he was also a voracious reader, had a huge library of books and absolutely did not want his men friends knowing about this hobby.

Gable was married five times, including a much publicized second one to actress Carole Lombard, who perished in a 1942 plane crash in Nevada.

He died in November 1960, at the age of 59, after suffering two heart attacks over a ten-day period. His widow was pregnant with his only biological son John Clark Gable, born four months later. Gable also fathered a daughter in 1935 during a brief affair with actress Loretta Young while filming Call of the Wild.

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr.

A 1988 biography, William F. Buckley Jr. Patron Saint of the Conservatives, by John B. Judis, proved a fascinating book to browse in. Buckley (1925-2008) brought a wit and intellectual brilliance to conservative thinking via the weekly magazine he founded in 1955, National Review, and his television show Firing Line. His nice guy debating skills both thrilled and terrified those on the other side of a given issue.

In 1965, Buckley ran as an independent in a three-way race against Democrat contender Abe Beame and Republican winner John Lindsay. Buckley wrote the following sardonic quote about Lindsay:

“For some people, politics is the ultimate concern. Of them, it can be said that they are serious about politics, in the sense in which Mr. John Lindsay is serious about politics. He is as serious about politics as, for instance, a flagpole-sitter is serious about flagpoles. Politics sustains Mr. Lindsay, even as the flagpole sustains the flagpole-sitter. Others care less for politics than for the end of politics. We climb flagpoles, but only in order to look at the horizon.”

Alma Gluck

Alma Gluck

A 12-inch acoustic shellac disc (Victrola Red Seal 88434) from 1914 features soprano Alma Gluck (1884-1938) in a collaboration with her husband, violinist Efrem Zimbalist (1889-1985), and pianist Eugene Lutsky performing Braga’s Angel’s Serenade, a frequently recorded concert piece during the World War I years. Gluck had one of the most beautiful voices of that era and sang a wide range of music including opera, hymns and folk songs.

They were the parents of actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and the grandparents of actress Stephanie Zimbalist.

This very fine record can be heard via YouTube.

 

 

 

.

CRITTER CHATTER: Cautiously optimistic for a young raccoon’s successful recovery

/0 Comments/in /by

Young raccoon resting comfortably. (photo by Jayne Winters)

by Jayne Winters

As is often the case, I wasn’t sure what this month’s article would be about and had asked Don to give it some thought so we could talk about it last week. And, as is often the case, it didn’t take very long for that question to be answered!

When I stopped by Duck Pond the other day, Dr. Cody Minor, of Windsor Veterinary Clinic, was finishing up a house call for a young raccoon, whose story is the topic of this column. Although my cat has received care at Windsor Vet for several years, I didn’t realize Dr. Minor has experience in zoo/wildlife medicine, as stated on the clinic’s website. And amazingly, one who apparently makes special home visits!

Don received a phone call from a woman who, while walking her dog, found a young coon that had been hit by a car (maybe even two). One of its eyes had popped out of its socket and it appeared to have suffered a broken front leg, maybe internal injuries as well. Friends were able to bring the coon to Duck Pond and Don immediately called Windsor Clinic and took the animal in for X-rays.

The coon did have a broken right leg, as well as two fractures in its jaw. Dr. Minor put the eye back into its socket, and treated/stitched the area in the hopes it could be saved. The jaw was wired and the front leg set and put into a cast. The patient was being weaned off pain medication and is being manually syringed soupy canned dog/cat food while under observation at Duck Pond. Just one day later, he seemed to be gaining strength and moving around in his crate in Don’s living room. I hope next month’s column will include a positive update, thanks to the Good Sama­ritan, Dr. Minor, the staff at Windsor Veterinary, and Don.

Speaking of Don, by the time you read this, he will have just turned 87. His continued commitment to helping wildlife is inspiring, to say the least. As noted last month, following his May hospitalization, he has transitioned into semi-retirement. While he isn’t admitting wildlife for extended care, he receives many calls every day, answers questions, provides advice and makes referrals to other wildlife rehabbers. Duck Pond is now primarily a drop-off site for folks to bring in the small injured or abandoned wildlife they’ve found, with other rehabbers coming by almost daily to transport the animals to their own facilities for additional treatment and care. Duck Pond prefers not to accept fawns, but Don can help people connect with and/or coordinate transfer with nearby rehabbers.

He has been working primarily with Misfits Rehab, in Auburn (207-212-1039; FYI, Jen accepts bats and mice), Wilderness Miracles, in Bowdoin (207-720-0074), Bridget Green, in Wiscasset (207-631-0874), Critterville Wildlife, in Brooklin (845-549-2407), and Saco River Wildlife (207-702-1405). As mentioned in last month’s column, mid-coast Maine has a newly-licensed turtle rehabber! Pam Meier can be reached at The Turtle’s Back (203-903-2708).

As you can imagine, wildlife rehabbers are inundated with their own rescue calls at this time of year, especially for young animals that require extra feedings and care, and Don greatly appreciates their assistance with Duck Pond rescues. Please remember to check these websites for someone close to you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html

In addition, you can contact your local Animal Control Officer through your town office.

Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit state permitted rehab facility supported by his own resources & outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOT BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Mainers warned to brace for rodent surge following heatwaves

/0 Comments/in /by
Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

According to Zachary Smith, of Smith’s Pest Management, summer heatwaves have created the ‘perfect storm’ for a surge in rodent activity.

Mainers have had to grapple with heatwaves this summer, and while these extreme weather patterns have obvious consequences, such as water shortages and increased wildfire risk, there’s another, less visible threat lurking in the shadows: a surge in rodent activity.

Smith warns that “the summer heatwaves we’ve experienced have created the perfect storm for a surge in rodent activity. When the environment becomes too hostile for rodents in the wild, they turn to our homes for food and shelter. Unfortunately, that means an invasion is likely.”

Here, he breaks down the details:

“When droughts hit, the landscape undergoes significant changes,” explains Smith. “Vegetation withers, water sources dry up, and ecosystems become stressed. These conditions drive rodents to seek out new environments where they can find the resources they need to survive – namely, food and water. Your home, with its reliable water supply and food sources, becomes an attractive target.” Rodents, particularly rats and mice, are incredibly resourceful. “In times of scarcity, they will invade homes, garages, and outbuildings, searching for sustenance,” Smith adds. “The lack of natural food sources and diminishing populations of predators, such as birds of prey, exacerbate the problem, allowing rodent populations to grow unchecked.”

Signs of a Rodent Infestation

It’s important to be vigilant and recognize the early signs of a rodent infestation. Smith notes, “The sooner you identify a rodent problem, the easier it is to handle it before it becomes a full-blown infestation.” Here are some common indicators:

Droppings: Rodent droppings are a telltale sign of an infestation. These are often found near food sources, in cupboards, or along baseboards.

Gnaw Marks: Rats and mice constantly gnaw on objects to keep their teeth sharp. Look for gnaw marks on food packaging, furniture, and wires.

Nests: Rodents build nests from shredded paper, fabric, and other soft materials. These nests are usually hidden in dark, secluded areas like attics, basements, or behind appliances.

Scurrying Sounds: You might hear scratching or scurrying sounds in the walls, especially at night when rodents are most active.

Footprints: In dusty areas, you may notice small footprints or tail marks.

Protecting Your Home from Rodent Infestations

“Preventing a rodent infestation is always easier than dealing with one after it’s taken hold,” advises Smith. Here are some steps you can take to protect your home:

Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for any gaps or cracks that rodents could use to enter. Pay special attention to areas around doors, windows, and pipes. Even a small opening can be an entryway for mice or rats.

Remove Food Sources: Store food in airtight containers, clean up spills immediately, and ensure that garbage is properly sealed and disposed of regularly.

Eliminate Water Sources: Fix leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and remove standing water where rodents could drink.

Trim Vegetation: Keep shrubs, trees, and other vegetation trimmed back from your home. This reduces the number of hiding places for rodents near your house.

Use Rodent Traps: Set traps in areas where you’ve noticed rodent activity. This can help to control populations before they become unmanageable.

“The combination of heatwaves and drought is likely to lead to a rise in rodent activity across the country. By taking proactive steps now, you can reduce the risk of an infestation and protect your home,” adds Smith. “Don’t wait until it’s too late. The time to act is now.”

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who was the first pitcher to have his number retired by the Boston Red Sox?

Answer
Pedro Martinez (No. 45).

MY POINT OF VIEW: Labor Day, the beginning of another season

/0 Comments/in /by
by Gary Kennedy

Well, here we are again, Labor Day September 2, and for many Mainers the beginning of another season. Children begin another school year while mama makes all the necessary preparation for all the coming events. Dad starts thinking about wrapping up the home in preparation of whatever the Farmer’s Almanac has extrapolated using the wisdom of Father Time. Of course, there are some pleasurable preparations that will be shared by all like checking out the ice fishing equipment, cleaning the camp, if we were fortunate enough to have acquired one during our productive years.

Finding and developing the pleasures that our four seasons bring is extremely important to living in the state of Maine. Winter gives us everything, snow, skiing, sledding, ice skating, ice fishing and the acknowledgement and love of God. (Xmas), Spring gives us aspirations of warmer weather, poor man’s fertilizer for our future crops and my favorite, fresh season maple syrup. Umm, those pancakes are great on a cold spring morning.

Last but not least is the sowing of the seed for the late summer, early fall crops. Don’t you just love that fresh Maine corn on the cob! Then comes summer which allows the children to enjoy their youth and to build and store memories to pass on at story time during those cold, frosty fall evenings; stories that will perhaps be similar to those told to them by their parents. Time through labor produces unimaginable growth to story time, but none the same, hearing grows with telling. Last, but certainly not least, is winter, where we enjoy and curse the winter wonderland. For me winter is a time of reflexions. Did I do all that I could do for God, country and family?

I take a serious look at who I am and what I have done, good and not so good, and make my new year’s resolution encompassing all results from my evaluation. This is my Labor Day. I shall then go to work on helping my world grow.

Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrating social and economic achievements. It is celebrated in most of the world. In most cases the dates are different but most of us have basically the same theme. Mine is personal and mostly private while others are very open and openly shared. It really makes no difference, if you have respect for other opinions and themes. As Americans we are a very long way from this holiday’s origin, the “American Labor Management”, which was a result of poor working conditions during the Industrial Revolution. However, if you look at our current situation we are in a very different place. It’s an election year and full of many things to think of before we vote.

The working environment is one of them, once again. Also, all minorities all the way up through the middle class need to think with intellect, in a soap-opera atmosphere. We have our employment to look at, our morality to question and to deal with, as our fore fathers once did. Our future and our children’s future depend on who and what we are and do.

Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894. That was 130 years ago. Labor Day is in part a fight for the welfare of our country and the security of our families. Mainer’s have always been respected workers; it’s the work environment that has now become the issue.

Windsor Fair is open for Labor Day. Stay safe and God bless you and your family. Remember “it’s not what you take with you; it’s what you leave behind”. Keep America safe and strong. Our children need us. We are the example that they rely on.

The views of the author of this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Perry Como & Pablo de Sarasate

/0 Comments/in /by
Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Perry Como

Perry Como

Perry Como – That Christmas Feeling; Winter Wonderland. Recorded August 8, 1946. RCA Victor 20-1968, ten-inch 78 disc.

I might be jumping the gun here seasonally speaking but I found the key words of That Christmas Feeling most apt in the 78 years and 10 days since this record was released in 1946 – “What a blessed place this world would be/If we had that Christmas feeling all year.” – especially with the constant cycles of anger, selfishness and greed roaring throughout the country these days.

And Perry Como was the kind of vocal artist who could convey such words and notes so persuasively not only with this song but such ones as May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You, Bless this House, When Someone Cares, etc. that were recorded during the ‘50s – the kinds of seemingly sentimental fluff that other lesser talents botched. He made singing seem so easy with his casual relaxed style.

That casual relaxed style disguised the sometimes two to three hours he would spend laboring over a song, trying out different keys and blendings with the best arrangers in the profession – Russ Case on this session and others of the mid-’40s (Case recorded some classy mood music instrumentals for MGM records during the same decade into the ‘50s); RCA’s head pop arranger Hugo Winterhalter; Como’s longtime conductor for his recordings and TV shows, Mitchell Ayres, until he resigned to become music director for the 1960s variety show, The Hollywood Palace; and finally Nick Perito, who would arrange and conduct for Como until his last Christmas special in Dublin in 1994.

Side 2’s Winter Wonderland has a swinging Big Band style with the saxophones and brass and a backup vocal group.

Wikipedia mentions that Sinatra would ask Como to fill in for him at the sold out Paramount theater concerts with the swooning bobby soxers.

Pablo de Sarasate

Pablo de Sarasate

Sarasate: Zapateado – Jan Kubelik, violinist; Victor Red Seal 74255, recorded 1911, a twelve-inch one-sided acoustically recorded shellac disc.

Pablo de Sarasate was a Spanish violinist and composer of show pieces for his chosen instrument. Violinists who have recorded his pieces range from Jascha Heifetz to Itzhak Perlman; Czech violinist Jan Kubelik (1880-1940) gave a performance of the composer’s Zapateado that combined the required lightning speed bowing and plucking with a breathtaking range of dynamics other fiddlers didn’t always match and an expressive beauty and depth that made this disc one splendid listening experience for its four minute duration, despite the limited fidelity of 113 years ago.

Kubelik’s son Rafael (1914-1996) was a superb conductor who served as music director of the Czech Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra.

The Como and Kubelik recordings can be heard via YouTube and other sources.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, August 22, 2024

/0 Comments/in /by

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

RED-BELLIED: Joan Chaffee, of Clinton, snapped this photo of a red-bellied woodpecker.

HEADING SOUTH?: Amy Boyer captured these Canada Geese resting on the lake.

CORRECTION: Lindy Sklover, of Vassalboro, photographed these peonies at Fieldstone Gardens, in Vassalboro. The photo was misidentified in last week’s issue. It was an editing error.

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS: Your ideal customer to grow your business

/0 Comments/in /by
Growing your businessby Dan Beaulieu
Business consultant

One of the most important aspects of growing a successful business is to have a complete understanding of who your customers are. You need to know everything possible about the people you are selling your products and services to.

Look, chances are you started a business because you saw a need, a need that had to be met. Most business start that way. But the next thing you have to know is who has that need for your product and service, and why do they need it?

It’s your job as a business owner to develop a complete “Ideal Customer Profile” of who your customers are, what they look for in the type of business you have and what makes them prefer one company over another.

This means you have to study your current customers to discover why they are your customers, what pleases them and what doesn’t, and that will help you create the idea customer profile.

Let’s say, for example, you specialize in landscaping, especially stonework landscaping. To develop your ideal customer profile study, your past and current customers and ask these questions:

• What do they have in common?
• What types of projects are the most popular?
• Stone walls?
• Pool surrounds?
• Retaining walls?
• Patios?
• Flower beds?
• What projects are the most profitable?
• What are your customers demographics?
• Age?
• Income?
• Neighborhood?
• Type of home?
• Ask yourself what kind of customers do you like dealing with?
• Which value what you do?
• Which know what they want?
• Which trust you enough to take your suggestions?
• Which are you most successful with?
• Which appreciate and value what you do?
• Which are customers for life calling you year after year with new projects?

Once you have accumulated all of this data, you can compile it and have a very good profile of your ideal customer, and an even better idea of how to market to that ideal customer, including knowing:

• What kind of advertising you should be doing?
• Local newspapers?
• Which do they read?
• Television or radio?
• What do they watch or listen to?
• Websites and social media
• Are they online?
• Do they use Google?
• Door to door flyers?
• Will word of mouth work?
• Customer referrals?
• Direct mailing or emailing?
• Are they analog or digital when it comes to getting messages?

All of these things matter when you are trying to gain new customers. You have to create your ideal customer profile and use it for your marketing, to make sure you are targeting the right customers. For example, if you are selling landscaping or stone scaping you are wasting your time trying to sell to people who live in town houses or retirement communities. On the other hand, you might find out who has just had a pool put in and contact them about landscaping around that pool. Or find you might find who just bought a house in town; or had one built and contact them. Both of these are a matter of public record so it’s not that difficult to find these customers.

But whatever you do if you want to be successful you have to do your homework. Develop your ideal customer profile and then market to potential customers that fit that profile and you’ll always be growing your business.