my $date_file = new IO::File;
	$date_file->open("<start_date.txt") or die "cannot find file!";
	chomp(my $date = $date_file->getline);
	$date_file->close;


	my $query = q{SELECT Count(x) AS numberOfx, y
				   INTO temp_table
				   FROM Referrals
				   WHERE ((x Is Not Null) AND ([Today's Date]> ?))
				   GROUP BY x
				   ORDER BY Count(x), y};
		$sth = $dbh->prepare($query);
		$sth->execute($date);
		$sth->finish();