diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ae43ccc..13ad088 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 ## Configuration
 
 ```shell
-# Required API/authentication variables:
+# Required API endpoint/authentication variables
 SONAR_URL=https://instance.sonar.software/api/graphql
 SONAR_TOKEN=
 RC_APP_KEY=
@@ -17,15 +17,25 @@ RC_LOGIN_PASSWORD=
 # Set to any value to enable use of RingCentral's sandbox API
 RC_SANDBOX=
 
+# The database to use
+# valid options: pg, sqlite
+# default: sqlite
 DB_ENGINE=sqlite # can be pg
-# only used when DB_ENGINE=pg
+
+# Only used when DB_ENGINE=pg
 DB_URL=
-# only used when DB_ENGINE=sqlite
+# Only used when DB_ENGINE=sqlite
+# default: voicemails.db
 DB_FILE=voicemails.db
 
 # A mapping of extension number to Sonar Ticket Group
 # Only the voicemail boxes of these extensions will be checked
 EXTENSION_TICKET_GROUPS=1:1,2:2,2:3
+
+# Upon first run, query RingCentral voicemails up to FIRST_RUN_AGE seconds old.
+# Useful when the application is restarted after not running for some time.
+# default: 86400 (1 day)
+FIRST_RUN_AGE=86400
 ```
 
 ## Deployment
@@ -45,6 +55,8 @@ services:
     environment:
       # ... see Configuration above
       DB_FILE: /data/voicemails.db
+      # so the created tickets show the correct 'Received' date & time
+      TZ: America/Creston
     volumes:
       - data:/data
 ```
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index e7f30b0..a65bd70 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,22 @@ function getExtensionToTicketGroupMapping() {
   return mapping;
 }
 
+const DEFAULT_FIRST_RUN_AGE = 86400;
+
+function getTicketizeConfig() {
+  const firstRunAge = process.env.FIRST_RUN_AGE
+    ? parseInt(process.env.FIRST_RUN_AGE)
+    : DEFAULT_FIRST_RUN_AGE;
+  if (isNaN(firstRunAge) || firstRunAge <= 0) {
+    throw new Error("FIRST_RUN_AGE must be a valid positive integer");
+  }
+
+  return {
+    firstRunAge,
+    extensionToTicketGroup: getExtensionToTicketGroupMapping(),
+  };
+}
+
 async function initSonar() {
   const sonar = new Sonar(process.env.SONAR_URL!, process.env.SONAR_TOKEN!);
   // simple query to test API cedentials
@@ -79,9 +95,7 @@ async function main() {
     const db = await initDB();
 
     console.log("Starting ticketizer...");
-    const intervals = ticketize(sonar, rcsdk, db, {
-      extensionToTicketGroup: getExtensionToTicketGroupMapping(),
-    });
+    const intervals = ticketize(sonar, rcsdk, db, getTicketizeConfig());
 
     ["SIGINT", "SIGTERM", "SIGQUIT"].forEach((sig) => {
       process.on(sig, async () => {
diff --git a/src/ticketize.ts b/src/ticketize.ts
index f7a30bb..40d38c6 100644
--- a/src/ticketize.ts
+++ b/src/ticketize.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ function rcapi(short: string, version = "v1.0") {
 }
 
 interface TicketizeConfig {
+  firstRunAge: number;
   extensionToTicketGroup: { [key: string]: number };
 }
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ export function ticketize(
   sonar: Sonar,
   rcsdk: SDK,
   db: Knex,
-  { extensionToTicketGroup }: TicketizeConfig
+  { firstRunAge, extensionToTicketGroup }: TicketizeConfig
 ) {
   /**
    * Uploads a file to Sonar, returning its ID.
@@ -92,17 +93,17 @@ export function ticketize(
   }
 
   /**
-   * Returns `extensionId`s messages that are up to `from` seconds old.
+   * Returns `extensionId`s messages that are up to `age` seconds old.
    *
    * @param extensionId
-   * @param from how many seconds ago to retrieve messages from
+   * @param age the maximum age (in seconds) of voicemails to fetch
    */
-  async function getExtensionVoicemails(extensionId: number, from = 86000) {
+  async function getExtensionVoicemails(extensionId: number, age = 86000) {
     const result = await rcsdk.get(
       rcapi(`/account/~/extension/${extensionId}/message-store`),
       {
         messageType: "VoiceMail",
-        dateFrom: new Date(Date.now() - from * 1000).toISOString(),
+        dateFrom: new Date(Date.now() - age * 1000).toISOString(),
       }
     );
     return (await result.json()).records as RCMessage[];
@@ -305,16 +306,13 @@ export function ticketize(
   }
 
   /**
-   * Retrieves and stores the voicemails for `extension` that are up to `from`
+   * Retrieves and stores the voicemails for `extension` that are up to `age`
    * seconds old.
    * @param extension
-   * @param from
+   * @param age
    */
-  async function storeExtensionVoicemails(
-    extension: RCExtension,
-    from: number
-  ) {
-    const messages = await getExtensionVoicemails(extension.id, from);
+  async function storeExtensionVoicemails(extension: RCExtension, age: number) {
+    const messages = await getExtensionVoicemails(extension.id, age);
     const isStored = await Promise.all(
       messages.map((message) => isMessageStored(message.id))
     );
@@ -335,15 +333,15 @@ export function ticketize(
 
   /**
    * Fetch and store new voicemails. If this is the first run, we get the last
-   * day's worth of voicemails. Otherwise, we fetch only the last 15 minutes.
+   * day's worth of voicemails. Otherwise, we fetch only the last 5 minutes.
    *
-   * @param firstRun whether this is the first run or not
+   * @param firstRun whether this is the first run
    */
   async function fetchAndStoreNewVoicemails(firstRun = false) {
     const extensions = await getValidRCExtensions();
     return Promise.all(
       extensions.map((extension) =>
-        storeExtensionVoicemails(extension, firstRun ? 86400 : 900)
+        storeExtensionVoicemails(extension, firstRun ? firstRunAge : 300)
       )
     );
   }