When I received the phone call that my 47-year old husband had died of a heart attack, I was pushed into a dimension of existence I had been unaware of so far. I was unable to eat or sleep for three days and nights, running on something unknown inside of me. Once fitful sleep returned for a few hours each night, I fought waking up in the morning, knowing that something dreadful was going to overwhelm me once I would become fully conscious. During my waking hours, I felt locked into a concrete cell of pain which I was unable to escape. Only death would provide relief, as I knew.
Talking with friends and family, I was amnesic – forgetting in the middle of a sentence what I had intended to say, and never sure whether I was not repeating an earlier part of the conversation which I no longer remembered. I would get into my car to drive to a specific destination and, half an hour later, found myself in a completely different location without any recollection of how I had gotten there. Often, I was standing next to myself, watching me, the robot, wondering how it managed to function.
At times, I had to force myself to even move in slow motion, and the uttering of every sentence required a superhuman effort. The world around me seemed unreal, and I had angry outbursts at what I would have considered insignificant before. Never given to colds, I suffered through an endless series of sore throats and laryngitis. Gastritis seemed to be my chronic companion, causing frequent stomach pains. I had no appetite and lost weight but managed to eat at least some of my favorite foods to keep my body functioning. Eventually, I developed excruciating back pain, tentatively diagnosed but never confirmed as a herniated disc.
Today I know that I was experiencing a combination of the typical symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome and major depression, as described in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM-IV, the basis for all mental health care. Since our country has lived through numerous tragedies over the past several years such as the Oklahoma City bombing, September 11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Katrina hurricane, we now have a much greater awareness of trauma and the acute mental health needs of survivors.
What continues to go unrecognized, however, is that the survivors of any traumatic death often exhibit identical symptoms, also benefiting from specialized mental health interventions to assist with working through the trauma, to prevent longer-term emotional and physical after-effects, and to build a "new" life.
What is traumatic bereavement? It is the loss of a spouse or partner, child, sibling, parent or other loved one which is sudden, untimely or violent through an accident, suicide or homicide. It is also the traumatic experience of watching a loved one suffer and die of a terminal illness, observing the person change from their prior self to a body or mind withering away, participating in the person’s terminal care, or observing treatment in the intensive care unit. It is any kind of death which strips away forever our denial that this could ever happen – at least not to us. A death which leaves us feeling vulnerable to the same kind of fate, now that we know that it is real.
Currently, bereavement is listed in the DSM-IV for information only. But the DSM-V, to be published in the near future, in all likelihood will have the new diagnosis of "complicated grief". Insurance will then cover specialized treatment by qualified licensed mental health professionals, society will finally become more attuned and sensitive to the needs of the bereaved, recognize the exceptional state survivors find themselves in, learn more about it, and accept complicated grief as a condition amenable to specialized interventions. The survivors, in turn, would be enabled to be more assertive about their condition, feel more comfortable to ask for care at an earlier stage, and have fewer reasons to be fearful of inappropriate, hurtful reactions by an unwitting environment.
The future DSM-V complicated grief diagnosis hopefully will also lead to the extinction of “grief counseling certification programs” which, for a steep registration fee, promise anyone (!) the acquisition in four days of all the skills required to help grievers “recover” from any loss, ranging in one breath from “death to the break-up of a romantic relationship.” Survivors will then have an incentive to seek out specialized mental health professionals to obtain appropriate information and care. And more mental health professionals will add the expertise needed to work successfully with the traumatized survivors.
Until the new edition will be published, we should make every effort now to understand that, when we, as a family member or friend, physician, mental health professional or member of the clergy, are facing someone who is grieving after a traumatic death, more than comforting phrases (and psychotropic medication such as anti-depressants...) is needed to treat a dimension of pain and trauma we are unable to gauge unless we have been there ourselves.
Recent advances in neuro-science indicate both functional and structural changes in the brains of traumatized individuals, most of them temporary only. These changes are shared by many exposed to the traumatic death of others and/or threats to their own lives and safety. Traumatically bereaved individuals would be well-advised to seek assistance by a qualified mental health professional to receive helpful information, reassurance as to the course of complicated grief, and for an evaluation of present symptoms of trauma, depression (including thoughts of suicide), anxiety, and concurrent mental health conditions.
Establishing a thorough history of prior and recent mental and physical health is also essential. Pre-existing or newly-developed physical conditions – elevated blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels, cardiac, gastric or orthopedic symptoms, thyroid disorders, none of them unusual as a reaction to the extreme physiological and emotional stress of trauma - require the referral to a primary care physician or a specialist. (Research has shown that the incidence of illness among the bereaved is three times the population average.) A family history of childhood abuse or neglect, emotional or addictive disorders, and a history of prior adult trauma predispose survivors to more prolonged traumatic reactions – and need to be considered when choosing the proper treatment approach.
A range of treatments is available such as supportive counseling in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy (focusing on thoughts as influencing feelings and actions) and psychodynamic therapy (understanding the origins of thoughts, emotions and behaviors). Relaxation techniques and retelling the extreme traumatic experience can also help to rob the memories of their vivid impact. At the same time, much needed coping skills will need to be developed. EMDR and structured exposure therapy are not recommended.
Symptoms of trauma may persist for a year or more, accompanied by depression and possibly anxiety, then followed by demoralization and exhaustion as complicated grief continues to recur in waves, at times seemingly out of the blue, but often triggered by the sight of an object, a sound, a smell, or the taste of a particular food, bringing forth repressed memories. Holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions can be especially difficult times for a survivor of traumatic death because the absence of the deceased is felt like a gaping wound. Also, as time goes by, symptoms of trauma yield to an increasing awareness of what the loss of our loved one means for the remainder of our lives. Hence, working through trauma and loss is a long-term process, there are no ninety-day miracles, no matter how much our environment wants us to “get on with it.”
Where am I today? I have turned my own experience of trauma into an instrument for assisting others, to convey the understanding that complicated grief is a natural reaction to an abnormal experience - please do not tell us that “Death is part of life!” - and that it can be survived. That we were forced into a dimension unimaginable to others and from which there is no return but which links us by a common bond. That we have to live with questions which have no answers but that eventually we can find meaning in our experience. And that eventually we learn to live better with our loss. But no – grief is not brief!
Dr. Weide has been a Licensed Psychologist and a National Certified Counselor in private practice in the Washington, D.C. area for twenty years. Dr. Weide is also certified as a Fellow of Thanatology (by the Association for Death Education and Counseling), specializing in complicated grief, bereavement and trauma therapy.
Ursula Weide, PhD, JD, NCC, FT
Licensed Psychologist, National Certified Counselor
Fellow of Thanatology
www.coping-with-loss-and-grief.com
801 N. Pitt Street, Suite 113; Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel. 703-548-3866
4400 East-West Hwy., Suite 329; Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel. 240-229-1893
(Five minutes from Bethesda Metro)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Neighborhood Budget Hearing
City Council invites you to a Neighborhood Budget Hearing on Tuesday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Williams' Social Hall - 6234 Rising Sun Avenue (19111). Public testimony is welcomed regarding the 2013 City Budget. Written testimony is strongly encouraged and should be kept to three minutes when read. Residents from the Ninth Council District who wish to testify may call 215-686-3454. See flyer for additional information.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
ALWAYS Take Time to do YOU
Burnout. It’s something that most women experience. (I’m sure men experience it too, but I'm speaking from a women't perspective.)
I remember my first real burn out. It was in April of 2002. I was 38 years old, had 3 daughters (then ages 15, 12, and 10), a husband and a business that I ran along with my then husband. Trying to be the good little “helpmate” I helped him with his lifelong dream of running a commercial steel erection company. I thought I was invincible. I was a great mom, wife and business partner. I made sure everyone was taken care of and had their needs met. But as my oldest daughter’s 15th birthday approached, I realized that I needed a vacation or I was going to explode. I had planned to go away the day after her birthday, but every day things got more and more unbearable and before I realized it, it was the day before her birthday, I had a full-blown falling out with my then husband and before I knew it I had packed a bag and was driving myself to the beach. While in route I called him and told him he needed to pick up the kids from school because I was going away for a few days. His response was “huh”? I hung up the phone and turned it off. I ended up in Cape May where found this beautiful hotel where all the senior citizens were hanging out. I called my mom and told her that I had to get away and asked if she would make sure my daughter had ice cream and cake. My mom didn’t ask any questions, just said ok and told me to enjoy. She was the vacation queen so she understood.
I checked in and went to my room (It was a beautiful room with an ocean view, living room area and kitchen area) I headed for the beach where I got a beach chair (didn’t need an umbrella because the sune felt good) It was kinda breezy and just warm enough to enjoy the beach without a jacket. I just sat there for hours. I watched the sun set then walked the “boardwalk” and ate. Then I found a discount book store and spent about an hour there. (It’s funny how I can remember all the details of this trip).
When I got back to my room I was exhausted. I took a shower and went to sleep. Got up the next morning and turned on the TV and they were advertising full body massages “right in the comfort of your hotel room”. So, I called, made an appointment, and a few hours later I was enjoying a full body Swedish massage! I felt better after that. It was my daughtr’s birthday and I planned to go back home after a few more hours on the beach. Well, After the beach and a meal, I went to take a nap and woke up around 1am. I had missed my daughter’s birthday, but boy oh boy did I feel great! I don’t think my daughter ever really forgave me for that. I know that if I didn’t go at that moment, I would have gone off! Maybe one day she’ll understand. Maybe she already does. She’s turning 25 next week, so that was 10 years ago.
That wasn’t my first getaway and it wasn’t my last. It wast the most exotic or exciting, but it was the most memorable. I had let too much time go by before taking time out for ME. I learned a valuable lesson. Ever since then, even if I can’t get to Jamaica, or the Bahamas or even Cape May, I can get to a spa somewhere and treat myself to a massage, body wrap or some other relaxing service. It is so important for our mental, spiritual and even our physical well-being.
Ladies, we are the backbone of our families and we must take time for ourselves so that we can continue to be the backbone that our families need us to be.
I remember my first real burn out. It was in April of 2002. I was 38 years old, had 3 daughters (then ages 15, 12, and 10), a husband and a business that I ran along with my then husband. Trying to be the good little “helpmate” I helped him with his lifelong dream of running a commercial steel erection company. I thought I was invincible. I was a great mom, wife and business partner. I made sure everyone was taken care of and had their needs met. But as my oldest daughter’s 15th birthday approached, I realized that I needed a vacation or I was going to explode. I had planned to go away the day after her birthday, but every day things got more and more unbearable and before I realized it, it was the day before her birthday, I had a full-blown falling out with my then husband and before I knew it I had packed a bag and was driving myself to the beach. While in route I called him and told him he needed to pick up the kids from school because I was going away for a few days. His response was “huh”? I hung up the phone and turned it off. I ended up in Cape May where found this beautiful hotel where all the senior citizens were hanging out. I called my mom and told her that I had to get away and asked if she would make sure my daughter had ice cream and cake. My mom didn’t ask any questions, just said ok and told me to enjoy. She was the vacation queen so she understood.
I checked in and went to my room (It was a beautiful room with an ocean view, living room area and kitchen area) I headed for the beach where I got a beach chair (didn’t need an umbrella because the sune felt good) It was kinda breezy and just warm enough to enjoy the beach without a jacket. I just sat there for hours. I watched the sun set then walked the “boardwalk” and ate. Then I found a discount book store and spent about an hour there. (It’s funny how I can remember all the details of this trip).
When I got back to my room I was exhausted. I took a shower and went to sleep. Got up the next morning and turned on the TV and they were advertising full body massages “right in the comfort of your hotel room”. So, I called, made an appointment, and a few hours later I was enjoying a full body Swedish massage! I felt better after that. It was my daughtr’s birthday and I planned to go back home after a few more hours on the beach. Well, After the beach and a meal, I went to take a nap and woke up around 1am. I had missed my daughter’s birthday, but boy oh boy did I feel great! I don’t think my daughter ever really forgave me for that. I know that if I didn’t go at that moment, I would have gone off! Maybe one day she’ll understand. Maybe she already does. She’s turning 25 next week, so that was 10 years ago.
That wasn’t my first getaway and it wasn’t my last. It wast the most exotic or exciting, but it was the most memorable. I had let too much time go by before taking time out for ME. I learned a valuable lesson. Ever since then, even if I can’t get to Jamaica, or the Bahamas or even Cape May, I can get to a spa somewhere and treat myself to a massage, body wrap or some other relaxing service. It is so important for our mental, spiritual and even our physical well-being.
Ladies, we are the backbone of our families and we must take time for ourselves so that we can continue to be the backbone that our families need us to be.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Destination Weddings
He’s popped the big question. You said YES! Now all you need to do is make the big plans. Do you want a traditional Church wedding? Or just simply elope and save some money? Or, should you go all out and make it not only a wedding but a destination wedding adding your dream vacation as the venue?
And just what is a destination wedding? Destination weddings are weddings outside the traditional church setting per say. Most destination weddings are designed and organized to take place away from home and come with the ease of planning to include a minimum of guests and shorten the to do list while offering the bride and groom and 2 for one deal; a wedding and honeymoon on the grounds of their dream vacation. In this edition of HER, we’ll take you to some of the world’s most romantic, elegant & affordable places to say “I do”.
#1 Place for Destination Weddings: Mexico South of the border, Mexico entices couples with its warm, sunny weather, colorful culture, extensive coastline, spicy cuisine, and wide choice of accommodations.
#2 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Jamaica
A lush island, Jamaica has beaches, waterfalls, mountains to explore. Add in more all-inclusives than anywhere else in the Caribbean and a reggae beat, and it's no wonder it's so popular with couples who want a destination wedding followed by a beach honeymoon.
#3 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has both fine boutique hotels and price-competitive all-inclusives. Outside of isolated enclaves on the island's southeastern side, however, couples may encounter sanitation issues.
#4 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Bahamas
The beautiful Bahamas, just off the coast of Florida, offer couples everything from 24/7 excitement to total laidback bliss, depending on whether they opt for developed Nassau, Freeport, Paradise, and Grand Bahama Island or one of the low-key Out Islands.
#5 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Hawaii
It's a long flight to Hawaii from just about anywhere, yet couples flock to the state's gorgeous islands in order to have a memorable destination wedding in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
#6 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: USVI
As a United States territory, it couldn't be easier to marry in the USVI. Couples can island hop from St. John, a vast nature preserve; to St. Croix; to shopaholic's dream St. Thomas, the destination where visitors are allowed to bring back more duty free items than from any place else.
#7 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Aruba
Dry Aruba, south of the hurricane zone, welcomes wedding couples year-round. Its clean, wide beaches beckon lovers by day, and its dozen-or-so casinos keep the action going till the wee hours.
#8 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Fiji
Exotic Fiji, with its gentle culture and castaway-island charm, is the choice of couples who want an unusual getaway-from-it-all wedding destination.
#9 Most Popular Choice for Destination Weddings Away: Cruise
Not only are cruise weddings affordable, they give couples opportunities to sail on their honeymoon to a variety of ports immediately following the wedding. Many ships have dedicated wedding chapels and can also arrange port-side weddings.
#10 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Europe
Historic and romantic, Europe's great cities and small villages alike provide unforgettable settings for destination weddings. However, many countries within Europe have stringent requirements for marriage that can include a long residency period. For this reason, many couples who want a destination wedding in Europe first marry at home and then have a symbolic ceremony in Europe.
If your planning to say I do this year, visit the official websites of some of the above venues. Destination weddings are becoming a more popular and savvy approach to today’s wedding. While there are still traditional weddings planned in the Church, destination weddings are most popular because of the all-inclusive added value.
Anitra Byers
Travel Consultant/Business Owner
Wallet Happy Vacations
www.wallethappyvacations.com
additional research found @honeymooncruisehoppers.com
And just what is a destination wedding? Destination weddings are weddings outside the traditional church setting per say. Most destination weddings are designed and organized to take place away from home and come with the ease of planning to include a minimum of guests and shorten the to do list while offering the bride and groom and 2 for one deal; a wedding and honeymoon on the grounds of their dream vacation. In this edition of HER, we’ll take you to some of the world’s most romantic, elegant & affordable places to say “I do”.
#1 Place for Destination Weddings: Mexico South of the border, Mexico entices couples with its warm, sunny weather, colorful culture, extensive coastline, spicy cuisine, and wide choice of accommodations.
#2 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Jamaica
A lush island, Jamaica has beaches, waterfalls, mountains to explore. Add in more all-inclusives than anywhere else in the Caribbean and a reggae beat, and it's no wonder it's so popular with couples who want a destination wedding followed by a beach honeymoon.
#3 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has both fine boutique hotels and price-competitive all-inclusives. Outside of isolated enclaves on the island's southeastern side, however, couples may encounter sanitation issues.
#4 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Bahamas
The beautiful Bahamas, just off the coast of Florida, offer couples everything from 24/7 excitement to total laidback bliss, depending on whether they opt for developed Nassau, Freeport, Paradise, and Grand Bahama Island or one of the low-key Out Islands.
#5 Place for Destination Weddings Away: Hawaii
It's a long flight to Hawaii from just about anywhere, yet couples flock to the state's gorgeous islands in order to have a memorable destination wedding in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
#6 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: USVI
As a United States territory, it couldn't be easier to marry in the USVI. Couples can island hop from St. John, a vast nature preserve; to St. Croix; to shopaholic's dream St. Thomas, the destination where visitors are allowed to bring back more duty free items than from any place else.
#7 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Aruba
Dry Aruba, south of the hurricane zone, welcomes wedding couples year-round. Its clean, wide beaches beckon lovers by day, and its dozen-or-so casinos keep the action going till the wee hours.
#8 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Fiji
Exotic Fiji, with its gentle culture and castaway-island charm, is the choice of couples who want an unusual getaway-from-it-all wedding destination.
#9 Most Popular Choice for Destination Weddings Away: Cruise
Not only are cruise weddings affordable, they give couples opportunities to sail on their honeymoon to a variety of ports immediately following the wedding. Many ships have dedicated wedding chapels and can also arrange port-side weddings.
#10 Most Popular Place for Destination Weddings Away: Europe
Historic and romantic, Europe's great cities and small villages alike provide unforgettable settings for destination weddings. However, many countries within Europe have stringent requirements for marriage that can include a long residency period. For this reason, many couples who want a destination wedding in Europe first marry at home and then have a symbolic ceremony in Europe.
If your planning to say I do this year, visit the official websites of some of the above venues. Destination weddings are becoming a more popular and savvy approach to today’s wedding. While there are still traditional weddings planned in the Church, destination weddings are most popular because of the all-inclusive added value.
Anitra Byers
Travel Consultant/Business Owner
Wallet Happy Vacations
www.wallethappyvacations.com
additional research found @honeymooncruisehoppers.com
Friday, April 6, 2012
Tourism Jobs for Germantown
Philadelphia has the highest unemployment rate
among all counties in the Delaware Valley—10.1%. In
a city of 1.5 million, that translates to roughly 154,000
people out of work. Unemployment for blacks is
15.7%, almost twice the national average. The jobless
rate among 16-24 year old black youth is 34.5%, reaching
Great Depression proportions and more than three
times the rate for the general U.S. population, according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Thousands of jobs in Northwest Philadelphia have
been lost to globalization, overseas manufacturing,
mechanization, de-industrialization, factory closings,
massive layoffs, and a workforce unprepared for the
high-tech jobs of the 21st century.
Maybe the solution is to go back—way back—in
time, to the 18th century. In my home district of Germantown,
we are surrounded by untapped riches. I am
not talking about shale oil or natural gas. I am talking
about a treasure trove of historical and cultural sites.
Germantown is called “Freedom’s Backyard” for a
reason. Colonial Germantown was a leader in religious
thought, printing, and education. The first American
anti-slavery protest was published here in 1688. The
Battle of Germantown was fought on October 4, 1777,
at Cliveden. The battle is reenacted every October. In
1793, during the Yellow Fever Epidemic, President
George Washington and his cabinet moved to the
Deshler-Morris House on Germantown Avenue.
A vibrant and robust tourism industry would not
only create jobs at Germantown’s numerous historic
and cultural sites, it would open the door to new restaurants,
shopping areas, farmers’ markets, inns, touring
companies, vendors, and trolley services—providing
sustainable jobs to the residents of Germantown who
are hungry for work.
Colonial Germantown stretches along Germantown
Avenue from Windrim Avenue on the south end to
East Sharpnack Street on the north end. is corridor
was designated a National Historic Landmark District
in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic
Places in 1966. It is time we capitalize on our landmarks
and make this part of the city a hub of job
growth, a source of revenue, and a place of pride.
To make this dream a reality, we must make the district
safe, accessible and attractive to tourists. It is high
time for criminal elements to “shape up or ship out.” To
do that, we must give our police force the resources they
need to patrol the streets and drive the drug dealers and
violent offenders out of our community. We need to
strive to make Germantown as safe, beautiful and desirable
as West Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill.
To bring tourists en masse to Germantown, we need
a shuttle service from Independence National Historical
Park to Colonial Germantown Historic District. If
offered an attractive option to transport them from Old
City to Germantown (i.e. double-decker bus, trolley,
etc.), tourists could easily and comfortably take advantage
of the historic sites Germantown has to offer.
We need to join together—touring companies, historical
societies, non-profits, activists, state and local
leaders, universities, schools, residents and philanthropists—
to promote Germantown as a tourist destination.
By introducing tourists to the historical importance
of Germantown, we can create hundreds of sustainable
jobs. Together we can restore Germantown to the safe,
beautiful and flourishing community I once knew as a
child.
Michael K. Ellis
Michael K. Ellis is a Democratic candidate for State Representative
in the Pennsyl)ania State House of Representatives.
He is running in the 201st District, which includes
Germantown.
among all counties in the Delaware Valley—10.1%. In
a city of 1.5 million, that translates to roughly 154,000
people out of work. Unemployment for blacks is
15.7%, almost twice the national average. The jobless
rate among 16-24 year old black youth is 34.5%, reaching
Great Depression proportions and more than three
times the rate for the general U.S. population, according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Thousands of jobs in Northwest Philadelphia have
been lost to globalization, overseas manufacturing,
mechanization, de-industrialization, factory closings,
massive layoffs, and a workforce unprepared for the
high-tech jobs of the 21st century.
Maybe the solution is to go back—way back—in
time, to the 18th century. In my home district of Germantown,
we are surrounded by untapped riches. I am
not talking about shale oil or natural gas. I am talking
about a treasure trove of historical and cultural sites.
Germantown is called “Freedom’s Backyard” for a
reason. Colonial Germantown was a leader in religious
thought, printing, and education. The first American
anti-slavery protest was published here in 1688. The
Battle of Germantown was fought on October 4, 1777,
at Cliveden. The battle is reenacted every October. In
1793, during the Yellow Fever Epidemic, President
George Washington and his cabinet moved to the
Deshler-Morris House on Germantown Avenue.
A vibrant and robust tourism industry would not
only create jobs at Germantown’s numerous historic
and cultural sites, it would open the door to new restaurants,
shopping areas, farmers’ markets, inns, touring
companies, vendors, and trolley services—providing
sustainable jobs to the residents of Germantown who
are hungry for work.
Colonial Germantown stretches along Germantown
Avenue from Windrim Avenue on the south end to
East Sharpnack Street on the north end. is corridor
was designated a National Historic Landmark District
in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic
Places in 1966. It is time we capitalize on our landmarks
and make this part of the city a hub of job
growth, a source of revenue, and a place of pride.
To make this dream a reality, we must make the district
safe, accessible and attractive to tourists. It is high
time for criminal elements to “shape up or ship out.” To
do that, we must give our police force the resources they
need to patrol the streets and drive the drug dealers and
violent offenders out of our community. We need to
strive to make Germantown as safe, beautiful and desirable
as West Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill.
To bring tourists en masse to Germantown, we need
a shuttle service from Independence National Historical
Park to Colonial Germantown Historic District. If
offered an attractive option to transport them from Old
City to Germantown (i.e. double-decker bus, trolley,
etc.), tourists could easily and comfortably take advantage
of the historic sites Germantown has to offer.
We need to join together—touring companies, historical
societies, non-profits, activists, state and local
leaders, universities, schools, residents and philanthropists—
to promote Germantown as a tourist destination.
By introducing tourists to the historical importance
of Germantown, we can create hundreds of sustainable
jobs. Together we can restore Germantown to the safe,
beautiful and flourishing community I once knew as a
child.
Michael K. Ellis
Michael K. Ellis is a Democratic candidate for State Representative
in the Pennsyl)ania State House of Representatives.
He is running in the 201st District, which includes
Germantown.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
How important is location to business success?
For years, real estate developers have recited the mantra of "location, location, location," and start-up businesses do well to take heed. Location is often the single most important determinant of a company's success or failure. Place your brick-and-mortar building in a prime locale and, other things being equal, the firm will have a greater chance of accomplishing its objectives. Set it down in the wrong place, and the business may struggle for years.
What factors should you consider when deciding where to locate your fledgling business?
Type of company. If you're starting a roofing business that plans to provide services at clients' homes, location may not be as important as, say, a barbershop that takes walk-in customers. The same might be true of a company that deals mainly with suppliers and vendors (a wholesaler, for example) versus a firm that generates revenue from drive-by traffic.
Demographics. A careful study of your customer base should factor into the location decision. A child care service that caters to busy professionals will need a location that makes drop-off and pick-up easy and secure. A store that sells geriatric supplies to senior citizens may want to make easy access a priority. If your customers are mostly teenagers, a mall setting may fit the bill.
Competitors. Ever notice how fast-food restaurants are often clustered along the same highways or near the same malls? Hotels and motels often locate near each other as well, in close proximity to airports and freeways. It may seem counter-intuitive, but placing your storefront close to your competition is often a wise choice. You can take advantage of your competitor's marketing, and customer traffic they've generated may spill over to your store. If Home Depot doesn't stock that widget, your specialty hardware store is just around the corner.
Affordability. Be realistic and find a location you can afford. A spot in an upscale mall might be great for snagging boutique customers, but if those clients don't bring in substantial revenue, rental costs may eat your business alive. You might be better off locating on a busy street near your target demographic. By renting a more affordable space, you'll ensure that more of your income stays in the company.
Above all, remember: There's no substitute for doing your homework — before you put down roots.
www.atconnercpa.com/
What factors should you consider when deciding where to locate your fledgling business?
Type of company. If you're starting a roofing business that plans to provide services at clients' homes, location may not be as important as, say, a barbershop that takes walk-in customers. The same might be true of a company that deals mainly with suppliers and vendors (a wholesaler, for example) versus a firm that generates revenue from drive-by traffic.
Demographics. A careful study of your customer base should factor into the location decision. A child care service that caters to busy professionals will need a location that makes drop-off and pick-up easy and secure. A store that sells geriatric supplies to senior citizens may want to make easy access a priority. If your customers are mostly teenagers, a mall setting may fit the bill.
Competitors. Ever notice how fast-food restaurants are often clustered along the same highways or near the same malls? Hotels and motels often locate near each other as well, in close proximity to airports and freeways. It may seem counter-intuitive, but placing your storefront close to your competition is often a wise choice. You can take advantage of your competitor's marketing, and customer traffic they've generated may spill over to your store. If Home Depot doesn't stock that widget, your specialty hardware store is just around the corner.
Affordability. Be realistic and find a location you can afford. A spot in an upscale mall might be great for snagging boutique customers, but if those clients don't bring in substantial revenue, rental costs may eat your business alive. You might be better off locating on a busy street near your target demographic. By renting a more affordable space, you'll ensure that more of your income stays in the company.
Above all, remember: There's no substitute for doing your homework — before you put down roots.
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