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Sunday, September 7
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Thursday, September 4, 2014
Blackstone Valley: Things to do in September
In the News: new high school, STEM roundtable, clean water grant
Every student has been assigned a Google Chromebook — affordable laptops — to use in class, Waite noted, saying it’s one of the things she’s been most excited about.
Bates and Waite, as well as the other members of the student-led transition teams, were integral in preparing the school for the first day, Light said.
"It was impressive work by a group of kids who were so enthusiastic and positive and willing to do all of the hard work behind the scenes to get the school up and running," he said. "That, to me, is really the most exciting thing: This is a place for the students, and we’re trying to create a culture where it’s led by the students, as well."Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140904/NEWS/140908725/1994/NEWS
Sparking interest in science and engineering early at the middle school level is one way to build a stronger workforce in the high-tech manufacturing fields, according to officials in the industry.
Executives from four such companies on Wednesday met with U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III and state Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford, for a roundtable discussion on potential solutions to the problems the industry faces.
Kennedy, a Democrat who represents the state’s 4th Congressional district, organized the session in part to update leading manufacturers on his bill that aims to establish regional manufacturing institutes across the country for education and research. The government would dole out funding for the centers through a competitive grant system.Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140904/NEWS/140908721/1994/NEWS
The town has received $117,650 in state funds to improve storm water runoff, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced today.
The money will aid the town in "mitigating the effects of polluted storm water," according to a press release..
"Clean lakes and streams mean thriving communities and healthy ecosystems," said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner David W. Cash.Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140902/NEWS/140909473
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Friends of Franklin Library - Meeting Agenda - Sep 3
FOFL Meeting Agenda for Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Meeting time: 7PM
Meeting place: Franklin Library, Community Room
· Welcome and introductions
· Public Comments
· Library Director
· Library Board of Directors
· Acceptance of minutes from last (June) meeting
· Treasurer's report
· Committee updates
o Membership
o Outreach – Facebook/Twitter
§ newsletter
o Downtown Partnership
§ Harvest Festival
· Continuing items
o Scholarship 2015
o FoFL Bulletin board content, monthly themes
· New Items
o Fundraising 2014-2015
o Presenting/sponsoring programs in conjunction with other town groups
§ Upcoming: October 7 with Garden Club at Alumni.
· Author of "Garden Club Mysteries' and other mysteries (Neal Sanders)
o Other authors? Topics?
o Other
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| Franklin Public Library |
Starbucks: Another chemical dumped (almost...)
Given the recent hype about the new Starbucks, this seems appropriate to share. Caveat emptor!
Hi from New York City!
I can't believe we did it again. We are bending policies of multi-billion dollar companies overnight. It really blows my mind!
In this latest post, I reveal the email exchanges I had with the Starbucks PR team leading up to last week, including what happened after they invited me to their headquarters in Seattle.
And…because of what you did last week, their stance completely changed.
Watch me talking about this issue on national TV this morning & read the latest news HERE.
At the end of this post, I have one little favor to ask. Even though Starbucks has agreed to some of our requests, they have a lot more work to do. Millions of people are still drinking these chemicals as I am typing!
None of these changes could become a reality without you and your unwavering determination to improve the quality and safety of our food.
I hope you are proud of yourself. I certainly am.
Thank you for standing with me and for your continued love and support.
Xo,
Vani
P.O. Box 31521 Charlotte, NC 28231
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Drink Starbucks? Wake Up And Smell The Chemicals! |
Franklin Area Kids Hiking Group - September hike descriptions
The hikes for September have been scheduled and posted to the group Facebook page:
Sept 5th Creatures of the night hike Delcarte Playground Franklin 6pm Join in this hike for a night of face painting and creature finding. We will discuss all the different nocturnal animals as well as a take home craft for each child! 15 child limit $5 per child
Sep 9th Open hike 4pm Join us for a free open hike through the cranberry bog and woods trail at Bass Pro Franklin Ma (Foxboro??)
Sep 11th Art in Nature Bird Park Walpole 4pm Join us for this beautiful hike and fun activity. The children will be using materials from nature to create their very own masterpieces. 15 child limit $5 per child
Sept 13th Owling Dacey Field 6pm Join us for a trip through the woods while we look for our friends of the night OWLS!! The kids will learn how to do owl calls and pick up some not so appetizing info on the owls digestive system!!! Take home craft provided for each child. 15 child limit $5 per child
Sep 14th Apples Apples Apples The Big Apple Wrentham Ma 10am This delicious hike is perfect for a weekend morning outing. The children will be making their own apple prints as well as exploring the farm land!! After the hike during our activity, the kids can enjoy apple cider donuts along with water and of course APPLES!!! 15 child limit $7 per child
Sep 17th Open Hike Hopedale Parklands 4pm. Join us on another free hike to explore a wonderful area with wild and plant life all around!!
Sep 19th Hike and Learn Plants. Choate Park Medway 4:30 pm Each child who joins this hike will be given their very own field guide and taken on a hike to identify and learn about different native plants that grow in the area. After the hike there will be a plant related Craft. !5 child limit $6 per child
Sep 22 Changing of the seasons SNETT Trail Franklin Ma 4pm This fun filled adventure will consist of take home field guides and lots of detective work to find the different signs of a changing season. After the hike the kids will be given a take home seasonal craft. 15 child limit $6 per child
Sep 25th Open Hike Bellingham Town Common. 4:30pm This is a fun afternoon hike as it is not to strenuous or even in the woods! A great place to walk and finish with some time on the playground
Sep 28th Yoga for kids and Moms Borderland State Park. Easton Ma !0am This is one of the most beautiful places to sit by the water and find some Sunday morning inner peace. A great way to get ready for a new week for both your child and you. All ages of children welcome. 15 child limit $2 entrance fee $4 per child hike fee
The schedule in a calendar view
The Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/830232910335361/
Sept 5th Creatures of the night hike Delcarte Playground Franklin 6pm Join in this hike for a night of face painting and creature finding. We will discuss all the different nocturnal animals as well as a take home craft for each child! 15 child limit $5 per child
Sep 9th Open hike 4pm Join us for a free open hike through the cranberry bog and woods trail at Bass Pro Franklin Ma (Foxboro??)
Sep 11th Art in Nature Bird Park Walpole 4pm Join us for this beautiful hike and fun activity. The children will be using materials from nature to create their very own masterpieces. 15 child limit $5 per child
Sept 13th Owling Dacey Field 6pm Join us for a trip through the woods while we look for our friends of the night OWLS!! The kids will learn how to do owl calls and pick up some not so appetizing info on the owls digestive system!!! Take home craft provided for each child. 15 child limit $5 per child
Sep 14th Apples Apples Apples The Big Apple Wrentham Ma 10am This delicious hike is perfect for a weekend morning outing. The children will be making their own apple prints as well as exploring the farm land!! After the hike during our activity, the kids can enjoy apple cider donuts along with water and of course APPLES!!! 15 child limit $7 per child
Sep 17th Open Hike Hopedale Parklands 4pm. Join us on another free hike to explore a wonderful area with wild and plant life all around!!
Sep 19th Hike and Learn Plants. Choate Park Medway 4:30 pm Each child who joins this hike will be given their very own field guide and taken on a hike to identify and learn about different native plants that grow in the area. After the hike there will be a plant related Craft. !5 child limit $6 per child
Sep 22 Changing of the seasons SNETT Trail Franklin Ma 4pm This fun filled adventure will consist of take home field guides and lots of detective work to find the different signs of a changing season. After the hike the kids will be given a take home seasonal craft. 15 child limit $6 per child
Sep 25th Open Hike Bellingham Town Common. 4:30pm This is a fun afternoon hike as it is not to strenuous or even in the woods! A great place to walk and finish with some time on the playground
Sep 28th Yoga for kids and Moms Borderland State Park. Easton Ma !0am This is one of the most beautiful places to sit by the water and find some Sunday morning inner peace. A great way to get ready for a new week for both your child and you. All ages of children welcome. 15 child limit $2 entrance fee $4 per child hike fee
The schedule in a calendar view
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| September 2014 hiking calendar |
The Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/830232910335361/
Important Emmons St Meeting WEDNESDAY - 5:30 pm
The Economic Development Committee will be making their recommendations for the RFP on Emmons Street property on Wednesday.
At the last meeting they discussed cutting the greenspace and leaving in the possibility of a drive-thru. They are very interested in citizens input, but people need to attend the meeting.
Emmons Street Property Discussion
Economic Development Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 3rd
5:30 pm-Town Hall meeting room-3rd floor
Committee will decide on specific recommendations to be included in the RFP
Public encouraged to attend
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| 150 Emmons St |
This is a reprint of the Downtown Partnership notice posted earlier
Franklin High School Preview for boys soccer and football
Hockomock Sports has the preview for Franklin in Boys Soccer and Football
2013 Record: 13-2-5 (11-0-5)
2013 Finish: Lost in MIAA D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Fran Bositis
Last fall, the Panthers were a minute from upsetting one of the top teams in the state, before Klisman Sousa scored an equalizer for New Bedford, which went on to win on penalties. Franklin returns 14 players from that squad, including 13 seniors who will be looking to make it a perfect four for four in league titles over their careers. As coach Fran Bositis explained, “There are no real flashy players, but they all fit well as a team.”
The Panthers will be without the box-to-box talent of midfielder Joe Kalil this season, but Bositis believes that he has a ready-made replacement in senior Tim Larowe, who played mostly at defensive mid last year. Bositis believes that Larowe, a two-year captain, has the capability of adding more attacking to his game. Offensively, Franklin will look to junior forward Austin Kent to provide the goals, but this will be a team based as always on energy, defense, and speed.
Bositis also highlighted his other captains Cal Harmon and Ben Labelle and said that a player to keep an eye on this season will be sophomore midfielder Hatim Brahimi, who can add some creativity in the center of the pitch as he gets accustomed to the league’s physicality.
With scrimmages against perennial powers such as Medway, Ludlow, and Algonquin, Bositis believes that his team will be ready to try and challenge Attleboro and KP for the title.You can read the complete boys soccer Kelly-Rex Division preview here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-boys-soccer-kelley-rex-division-preview
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| new FHS Panthers logo |
Franklin
2013 Record: 5-6 (1-4)
2013 Finish: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Brad Sidwell (21st Year, 118-88-3)
Key Players: Colton Cardinal, Sr. TE/LB, 6-4, 235 lbs.; Andrew Parent, Sr. WR/CB, 5-9, 165 lbs.; Daevon Weathers, Sr. RB, 5-6, 170 lbs.; Luke Gordon, Jr. WR/S, 6-1, 175 lbs.; Sam Harrell, Jr. WR, 5-11, 180 lbs.; Kyle Skidmore, Sr. QB/DB, 6-3, 200 lbs.; Nick Yelle, Jr. WR/DB, 5-9, 175 lbs.; Jake Garrity, Sr. WR/DB, 5-8, 165 lbs.; Brian Sugrue, Sr. OL/DL, 6-2, 255 lbs.; Joey Giacalone, Jr. OL/DL, 6-1, 260 lbs.; Ben Riggs, Jr. OL/DL, 6-2, 285 lbs.; Brian Casali, Sr. LB, 5-9, 185 lbs.
Offense: Kyle Skidmore will take over the reins at quarterback this fall and the lefty will have to try and build an offense that features a number of new faces in the skill positions. Daevon Weathers will be the primary back with Sam Harrell, Luke Gordon, Jake Garrity, and senior captain Andrew Parent among the players that will be counted on to make plays at receiver.
Franklin has plenty of size up front with Brian Sugrue, Joey Giacalone, and Ben Riggs all at least 6-1. The line will need to protect the passer against its speedier Kelley-Rex rivals. Weathers is a smaller back but likes to go downhill and attack the hole quickly, which will again make interior line play a crucial component to the offense’s success.
Defense: Parent will be one of the key players in the Panthers’ inexperienced secondary. Many of the receivers will also be playing on the other side of the ball. Like Parent, senior linebacker Colton Cardinal, who has DI interest and was named one of HockomockSports.com Defensive Players to Watch, was missing during parts of preseason and will be a pivotal player for Franklin. Cardinal will be a key weapon in the pass rush and with his ability to recognize and call out screens or to judge the zone read, which is a component of many Hockomock offenses.
The size that is a strength of the offense is also a factor on defense. Franklin is a team that can bunch the middle and will be tough to run against inside the tackles. Cardinal will get some help in the linebacking corps from senior Brian Casali.
Outlook: Franklin struggled offensively against the top teams in the division last season and that could be an issue again as it searches for the right combination of playmakers and Skidmore becomes comfortable with the system. The Panthers do bring three of their rivals to Pisini Field, but reaching the playoffs could be a tough task this season.You can read the full Kelly-Rex Division preview here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-football-kelley-rex-division-preview
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Franklin Newcomers and Friends - meeting Sep 10
Hi Steve,
Our committee is gearing up for our first official meeting of the year. We're reaching out to see if you'd be able to post our events on your Franklin Matters blog. We all subscribe and we're big fans of your blog. We're thankful for the time you take to keep us all in know about anything that "matters" in Franklin! We'd appreciate your help and thank you in advance!
Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, September 10th at "3" Restaurant, 461 West Central Street in Franklin. We gather at 7:30 for complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar is available. Our meetings start by 8pm.
We're a social gathering of local residents. We welcome you whether you are new to the area or have lived here forever. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month, September through May. We have additional gatherings each month based on different interests. We meet regularly for morning breakfasts, lunch or dinner. We have Ladies Nights Out, Wine Tastings, movie nights, events for couples and families . . .singles too! Everyone's input is valued and if you have something you'd like to do, we offer a place to come together with your ideas and an opportunity to socialize with others. We like to give back to the community so we hold events that raise funds that support local programs and organizations. Our goal is to provide friendship and promote camaraderie among local residents.
Giving back to the community is important to us. The proceeds raised at our annual fundraiser, the Franklin Newcomers and Friends Craft Fair, is donated to local charities and organizations. We also look for opportunities to lend our support through volunteering.
For more information, check out our website www.franklinnewcomers.com. For ease in communication, we utilize MeetUp.com for events outside of our regular monthly meetings. If you have any questions, contact us by email at franklinnewcomers@hotmail.com.
Thanks for helping us spread the word . . .
Karilyn Hammer
Franklin Newcomers and Friends
Board Member
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| Franklin Newcomers and Friends website |
MA Candidates for Governor
Only a week remains before the Sep 9th primary election. There are a pack of candidates running for governor of MA. WBUR's website provides an intro to each candidate:
http://www.wbur.org/2014/08/04/massachusetts-gubernatorial-candidates
The campaign sites for each candidate are as follows:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140902/NEWS/140909738/1994/NEWS
Absentee ballots are available to the Town Clerks office
http://www.wbur.org/2014/08/04/massachusetts-gubernatorial-candidates
The campaign sites for each candidate are as follows:
Denocrat
Martha Coakley - http://www.marthacoakley.com/
Steve Grossman - http://stevegrossman.com/
Donald Berwick - http://www.berwickforgovernor.com/
Republican
Charlie Baker - https://www.charliebaker2014.com/
Mark Fisher - http://www.markfisher2014.com/
Independent
Evan Falchuk - http://www.falchuk2014.org/
Jeff McCormick - http://www.jmacforgov.org/
Scott Lively - http://www.livelyforgovernor.com/
From the Milford Daily News we find:
Since Jan. 1, the gubernatorial candidates have spent a combined $9.16 million. Grossman has spent $1.78 million, followed by Coakley ($1.61 million), Baker ($1.40 million), Berwick ($1.16 million) and Fisher ($290,000).
United Independent Party candidate Evan Falchuk has spent $865,000, while independents Scott Lively and Jeff McCormick have spent $9,400 and $901,000, respectively.Continue reading the article on campaign spending here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140902/NEWS/140909738/1994/NEWS
Absentee ballots are available to the Town Clerks office
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| Primary election notice for Sep 9, 2014 |
Riding-mower tuneup promotion
Hello Steve,
Below is a late-summer incentive for you to keep your riding mower in top shape. If you don't own a riding mower, please ignore and sorry for the trouble.
The rates below are for routine preventive maintenance for a fully operational machine with no known problems. Repairs extra.
Riding mower or commercial walk-behind up to 42": $30 off = $169 ($199)Riding mower or commercial walk-behind over 42": $40 off= $199 ($239)Extended area charge (where applicable): $10 off = $19 ($29)
Must be booked on-line by September 8, 2014.
Book now (Use promo code (RM914)
Mower n More
This message is sent to you as a customer of Mower n More. We believe the content to be beneficial to you, but if you would like to be removed from future mailings, you can unsubscribe
Mower n More, P.O. Box 201, Hopedale MA, 01747. (508) 478-2004
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Monday, September 1, 2014
Franklin Public Schools: Welcome Back
A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
September 1, 2014
Welcome Back to our Students, Parents and Faculty!
Maureen Sabolinski
Superintendent of Schools
For more information about the Franklin Public Schools you can visit their webpage via the Franklin Town site or directly here http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index
September 1, 2014
Welcome Back to our Students, Parents and Faculty!
As the 2014-2015 academic year begins let me welcome back our faculty, students and families. We will continue to offer opportunities for excellence and will reaffirm the importance of public education through our work with the children of Franklin. When we open our doors on Tuesday, our administration, faculty and staff will share their commitment, talent and passion to inspire your children to achieve.
This school year will welcome the Class of 2018 to the new Franklin High School. Much of this short summer was spent completing the new school and preparing for the transition. The new high school is an amazing gift to our students from the community and we invite you to join us for a tour when we officially dedicate the facility. Dedication weekend will be September 20 and 21. (Details to follow).
The Facilities Department and DPW personnel engaged in a number of summer projects. Anyone who traveled down Lincoln Street this summer will know that the town completed an expansive project and it include renovation and addition of sidewalks. Also the concrete curbs at the Keller/ASMS complex were replaced with granite curbs thus making the entry much safer.
While students were vacationing many of our educators engaged in rigorous professional development. About 50 of our staff attended the Building Learning Communities (BLC) conference in Boston. Many of us learned much about using technology to support learning. We will be developing a Digital Learning Committee of educators and administrators to design a comprehensive plan to use digital learning.
Also this summer our elementary teachers worked on developing lessons to support the implementation of the new mathematics program Envisions. We will be setting up a series of math programs aimed at parents to review the program and to understand the mathematical content in K-5.
On September 4 and 5 all of our kindergarten teachers will attend a mandated training by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This training will teach the educator how to use the MKEA, the Massachusetts Kindergarten Educational Assessment tool. As we accept state funds to implement free full- day kindergarten we are mandated to complete the assessment and staff must be trained. We will report back to the School Committee as the assessment of students begins in late fall.
The Franklin Public Schools has gone global and you will be hearing from FHS teacher Mike Walsh and his students who visited China in early summer. Also our Director Art Education, Jane Hogan and Director Instructional Services Pre K-12, Joyce Edwards spent two weeks in China visiting schools and learning about education in China. We look forward to hearing about their journey at a School Committee meeting in late September.
As we open school please extend your thanks and appreciation to the Facilities Staff and DPW who worked tirelessly to open all of our schools. Also as we now have busses, vans and students on the road again, we ask that you leave some extra time for traffic and to be mindful of all crosswalks. We want all our students to get to school safely.Warm Regards and All the Best for a Successful Year,
Maureen Sabolinski
Superintendent of Schools
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.
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| Franklin High School |
For more information about the Franklin Public Schools you can visit their webpage via the Franklin Town site or directly here http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index
Labor Day and 'back to school' week
The wikipedia entry for Labor Day reads in part:
To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day has become an important sale weekend for many retailers in the United States. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.[7]
Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those who are employed in the retail sector not only work on Labor Day, but work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24% of all jobs in the United States.[8] As of 2012, only 3% of those employed in the retail sector were members of a labor union.[8]
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| Parmenter School sign with opening schedule for 2014-2015 school year |
Labor Day is also the traditional end of summer and return to school. Franklin schools got out early in June 2014 in part due to the snow days but also deliberately to assist with the move out of the old FHS building. Schools are also opening after Labor Day this year to provide the time for the new FHS building to get completed (construction has been) and the facility moved into (by faculty, etc.).
In elementary, Grades 1-5 report on Sep 3
Friday Sep 5, there is a one hour Kindergarten orientation and on Monday, Sep 8th, Kindergarten will start their full day schedule.
The K schedule is different this year due to a new state requirement for an assessment of all kndergarteners. The K teachers are being trained on the assessment process, Weds and Thur (Sep 3-4).
Middle school and high school opens for all grades on Sep 3
31 thermal totes collected and delivered
You may recall that Megan DeKing posted about collecting some thermal totes for new born infants at the intensive care unit of an area hospital. With your help she collected 31 totes and delivered them last Friday. She posted the following to our Franklin Matters Facebook page
The totes were delivered to the NICU at Newton Wellsley Hospital
The fund raising was initially posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/fund-raising-thermal-totes-for-infants.html
Thank you so much to those that helped collect NICU totes! Just dropped them off and the moms there were so thankful!
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| Megan DeKing (far right) delivering the totes |
The fund raising was initially posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/fund-raising-thermal-totes-for-infants.html
September is Campus Fire Safety Month
Did you know that September is Campus Fire Safety Month? With students returning to college campuses within and outside the state, including Franklin's Dean College, it makes sense.
Summer is coming to an end and a new school year is about to begin. As students return to campus and off-campus apartments across Massachusetts, the state designates September Campus Fire Safety Month. Through fire safety education, the Commonwealth aims to reduce occurrences of fire and the resulting losses of life or property damage.
According to the Department of Fire Services (DFS), 39 Massachusetts civilians died due to fires in 2012. In fact,69% of all residential building fires originated in the kitchen due to unsafe cooking practices that year.
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| MA.gov blog on fire safety |
Continue reading the MA Gov blog article here to find out the fire safety tips they provide http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/campus-fire-safety-month/
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