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Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, March 16, 2019
LeVar Burton Continues his Legacy of Literacy
Senate President Spilka Announces Staff Office Hours In Ashland on April 12
Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) announced today that her staff will be hosting office hours at her district office on Friday, April 12, at 37 Pond Street, Ashland 01721, from 10:00-11:00 AM.
Any constituent who would like to speak with Senate President Spilka’s staff is encouraged to stop by.
Appointments are encouraged by emailing Puja.Mehta@masenate.gov with their name, address, phone number and topic of conversation no later than Friday, April 5.
Any constituent who would like to speak with Senate President Spilka’s staff is encouraged to stop by.
Appointments are encouraged by emailing Puja.Mehta@masenate.gov with their name, address, phone number and topic of conversation no later than Friday, April 5.
Senate President Spilka Announces Staff Office Hours In Ashland on April 12 |
Free Women’s Self-Defense Workshop - Register Today -> Apr 3 - Apr 4
The Franklin Police Department and Franklin Public Schools’ Lifelong Community Learning will present a FREE two-night Women’s Self-Defense Workshop on April 3 & 4 at Franklin High School as part of their continuing community partnership.
Participate in this very important workshop to learn realistic self-defense strategies for women from age 16 to 65. Officer Tara Lagoa discusses risk reduction and avoidance, situational awareness, how to trust your intuition, and basic hands-on self-defense techniques. This program will include the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System.
This is a great workshop for mothers and daughters to attend together. Please dress comfortably and wear sneakers. Learn how to put power into your own hands. The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.
For more information and to register online, go to www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com, click on Lifelong Community Learning & select Special Events.
Participate in this very important workshop to learn realistic self-defense strategies for women from age 16 to 65. Officer Tara Lagoa discusses risk reduction and avoidance, situational awareness, how to trust your intuition, and basic hands-on self-defense techniques. This program will include the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System.
This is a great workshop for mothers and daughters to attend together. Please dress comfortably and wear sneakers. Learn how to put power into your own hands. The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.
For more information and to register online, go to www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com, click on Lifelong Community Learning & select Special Events.
Free Women’s Self-Defense Workshop - Register Today -> Apr 3 - Apr 4 |
Friday, March 15, 2019
Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Mar 15 to THU - Mar 21
Friday, March 15
Book sale setup
10:00am
Knitting Group
1:00pm
Library Book Sale (new schedule)
7:30pm
Seussical
Saturday, March 16
9:00am
Book Sale
9:00am
Library Book Sale (new schedule)
9:30am
Family Yoga Adventure
1:00pm
Library Bag Sale (new schedule)
7:30pm
Seussical
Sunday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day
2:00pm
Seussical
Monday, March 18
10:30am
Move Along
11:00am
Toddler Playgroup
2:30pm
Musical Rehearsal
3:00pm
Monday Crafternoons
3:30pm
Dungeons & Dragons for Kids ( Teen Room)
7:00pm
OSKEY Rehearsal
7:00pm
FinCom - FY 2020 Budget hearing #1 of 4
Tuesday, March 19
9:30am
Cool Cruisers
10:30am
Get Ready for Kindergarten
2:30pm
Musical Rehearsal
4:30pm
SPRING ART Snow Date
6:00pm
MICCA All Town Showcase Concert Orchestra/Chorus SNOW DATE
6:30pm
Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens - Companion Plants
7:00pm
FinCom - FY 2020 Budget hearing #2 of 4
Wednesday, March 20
10:30am
Terrific Toddlers
11:00am
Toddler Playgroup
4:00pm
Construction Junction
5:00pm
Book Bites
7:00pm
OSKEY Rehearsal
7:00pm
Town Council Meeting
Thursday, March 21
9:30am
Baby Tummy Time
10:30am
Story & Craft
2:30pm
Musical Rehearsal
4:00pm
Fandom Thursdays
6:00pm
MICCA All Town Showcase Concert - Band SNOW DATE
6:00pm
Volunteens
6:30pm
Myths & Miracles of Victorian Medicine
For the interactive version, please visit
For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar
http://www.franklinma.gov/calendarSubmit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link
Franklin-based "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" support group launching April 10 at the Y
Starting on April 10 the Franklin Y will host a bi-monthly meeting of a support group called Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. This program is a collaboration between the Y, the SAFE Coalition, and the state Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
There is a population of grandparents who are being awarded custody of their grandchildren as their own children deal with substance abuse disorder issues. Many of them are 60 years old or younger and still working, limiting their time to access resources to guide them through raising kids again, while dealing with the continuing grief of knowing that their children's situation is at the point where the courts have taken away their parental custody.
This group will provide information, resources, and support for grandparents and kinship caregivers. It will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at the Franklin Y, 45 Forge Hill Road, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM.
The group will be facilitated by a SAFE Coalition Board of Director and trained social worker, Meredith Poulten. The Y will provide child care to grandparents who need to bring their grandchildren with them in order to make the meeting.
Please see the flyer for more information. Get a copy of the flyer here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczaVpsQUdhLWNyakVwcy1DZ3NkS2VLaGVPdWxz/view?usp=sharing
There is a population of grandparents who are being awarded custody of their grandchildren as their own children deal with substance abuse disorder issues. Many of them are 60 years old or younger and still working, limiting their time to access resources to guide them through raising kids again, while dealing with the continuing grief of knowing that their children's situation is at the point where the courts have taken away their parental custody.
This group will provide information, resources, and support for grandparents and kinship caregivers. It will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at the Franklin Y, 45 Forge Hill Road, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM.
The group will be facilitated by a SAFE Coalition Board of Director and trained social worker, Meredith Poulten. The Y will provide child care to grandparents who need to bring their grandchildren with them in order to make the meeting.
Please see the flyer for more information. Get a copy of the flyer here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczaVpsQUdhLWNyakVwcy1DZ3NkS2VLaGVPdWxz/view?usp=sharing
Franklin-based "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" support group launching April 10 at the Y |
Watch "RMS Pi Day 2019" on YouTube
Remington Middle School prepared to celebrate PI Day in a grand way.
Enjoy!
2019 PI Day video https://youtu.be/C5wAko9q9tE
2018 PI Day video https://youtu.be/lo6WV5e09hk
Enjoy!
2019 PI Day video https://youtu.be/C5wAko9q9tE
2018 PI Day video https://youtu.be/lo6WV5e09hk
FHS Softball: annual youth clinic for grades K-5 - Mar 23
CALLING ALL YOUTH SOFTBALL PLAYERS!
FHS Softball is hosting our annual youth clinic for grades K-5 on Saturday March 23 from 9 AM - 12 PM in the FHS gym. Learn the fundamentals of fast pitch or expand your skill base with fun drills and stations led by Varsity Coach Kate Fallon, her coaching staff and current varsity players!
See the attached flyer for registration details or click the link below for online registration and payment
online registration and payment
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xN7Wc_-4MpecpFf8L_3qWCRHZ8uxUyU19UmRjS_XBhM/edit
flyer for registration details
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczYmdlQXRtby1hM3Fra3BjVVhUNXRCeDE5dGFz/view?usp=sharing
FHS Softball is hosting our annual youth clinic for grades K-5 on Saturday March 23 from 9 AM - 12 PM in the FHS gym. Learn the fundamentals of fast pitch or expand your skill base with fun drills and stations led by Varsity Coach Kate Fallon, her coaching staff and current varsity players!
See the attached flyer for registration details or click the link below for online registration and payment
online registration and payment
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xN7Wc_-4MpecpFf8L_3qWCRHZ8uxUyU19UmRjS_XBhM/edit
flyer for registration details
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczYmdlQXRtby1hM3Fra3BjVVhUNXRCeDE5dGFz/view?usp=sharing
FHS Panthers - Girls Softball |
Internet & Social Media Safety for Students - March 27
Lifelong Community Learning is offering a class aimed at informing middle school students about the importance of being careful when using the Internet & social media. The workshop will be conducted by community service officers from the Franklin Police Department.
Social networks involve a lot of sharing, including photos, videos, links, and personal information - and it’s not always good. Many kids and teens enjoy sharing these things with their friends, but they may actually be sharing information with more people than they realize. For example, accepting friend requests from strangers. This means their "friends" may not be people they can trust.
Internet & Social Media Safety for Students, will take place on Wednesday, March 27 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Franklin High School. Participation is open to all area middle school students. The class is FREE but registration is required.
For more information and to register, go online www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Lifelong Community Learning. You can also call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480.
Social networks involve a lot of sharing, including photos, videos, links, and personal information - and it’s not always good. Many kids and teens enjoy sharing these things with their friends, but they may actually be sharing information with more people than they realize. For example, accepting friend requests from strangers. This means their "friends" may not be people they can trust.
Internet & Social Media Safety for Students, will take place on Wednesday, March 27 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Franklin High School. Participation is open to all area middle school students. The class is FREE but registration is required.
For more information and to register, go online www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Lifelong Community Learning. You can also call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480.
Lifelong Community Learning is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing diverse and enriched education and experiences for all area residents and children – a resource for all ages.
Internet & Social Media Safety for Students - March 27 |
MBTA's Rail Vision Update -Survey open until March 29
Dear Rail Vision Subscribers,
Thanks to more than 100 participants at last week's Rail Vision Open House. Our team heard lots of comments and suggestions, explained the alternatives, and learned about your challenges and preferences. You can follow up by visiting the project website where there are fact sheets on each alternative that include a map of the service area, service features, and a summary of benefits and trade-offs. You can share additional comments by emailing us at RailVision@state.ma.us.
The Rail Vision Non-Rider Survey remains available until March 29. It can be accessed on any device by visiting www.MBTARailVisionSurvey.com. The survey takes about 20 seconds to complete and is a creative way for people who do not regularly use the rail system to let us know what is important to them. Non-rider voices and their responses will help frame alternatives we hope will inspire more drivers to leave the highway and board a train more regularly. Please share the survey link widely.
If you were not able to attend the open house, you can find the presentation on the study website, along with materials from our past Advisory Committee meetings. You can also send comments and questions via the website.
The Rail Vision Team
This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT's Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email
MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the meeting.
Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination: MassDOT complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related federal and state statutes and regulations. It is the policy of MassDOT to ensure that no person or group of persons shall on the grounds of Title VI protected categories, including race, color, national origin, or under additional federal and state protected categories including sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered by MassDOT.
To request additional information about this commitment, or to file a complaint under Title VI or a related nondiscrimination provision, please contact MassDOT's Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580, TTY at (857) 368-8580, fax (857) 368-0602or by e-mail at MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us.
If information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580.
Thanks to more than 100 participants at last week's Rail Vision Open House. Our team heard lots of comments and suggestions, explained the alternatives, and learned about your challenges and preferences. You can follow up by visiting the project website where there are fact sheets on each alternative that include a map of the service area, service features, and a summary of benefits and trade-offs. You can share additional comments by emailing us at RailVision@state.ma.us.
The Rail Vision Non-Rider Survey remains available until March 29. It can be accessed on any device by visiting www.MBTARailVisionSurvey.com. The survey takes about 20 seconds to complete and is a creative way for people who do not regularly use the rail system to let us know what is important to them. Non-rider voices and their responses will help frame alternatives we hope will inspire more drivers to leave the highway and board a train more regularly. Please share the survey link widely.
If you were not able to attend the open house, you can find the presentation on the study website, along with materials from our past Advisory Committee meetings. You can also send comments and questions via the website.
The Rail Vision Team
This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT's Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email
MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the meeting.
Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination: MassDOT complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related federal and state statutes and regulations. It is the policy of MassDOT to ensure that no person or group of persons shall on the grounds of Title VI protected categories, including race, color, national origin, or under additional federal and state protected categories including sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered by MassDOT.
To request additional information about this commitment, or to file a complaint under Title VI or a related nondiscrimination provision, please contact MassDOT's Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580, TTY at (857) 368-8580, fax (857) 368-0602or by e-mail at MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us.
If information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580.
Register Now: Spring Music for Young Children session at Encore Music
The Spring Music for Young Children session is open for registration now at Encore Music.
Register online at http://www.encoremusicacademy.net/
Register Now: Spring Music for Young Children session at Encore Music |
Register online at http://www.encoremusicacademy.net/
Crafters wanted - 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll - June 14
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is seeking crafters for its upcoming Strawberry Stroll on Friday, June 14 at 4 PM to 8 PM (rain date June 15). This 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll is expected to be the largest ever.
Enjoy live music, dancing, sidewalk sales, activities, delicious foods and more with thousands of people of all ages on the closed-off streets of downtown Franklin.
Crafters can register for a space at the Strawberry Stroll for $75. The registration form will be available on the Partnership’s website in mid-April, www.franklindowntownpartnership.com
Enjoy live music, dancing, sidewalk sales, activities, delicious foods and more with thousands of people of all ages on the closed-off streets of downtown Franklin.
Crafters can register for a space at the Strawberry Stroll for $75. The registration form will be available on the Partnership’s website in mid-April, www.franklindowntownpartnership.com
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit, 501©3 organization that supports downtown revitalization and streetscape efforts, and organizes events such as the Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival and Beautification days.
Crafters wanted - 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll - June 14 |
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Charter School building updates
The BFCCPS Charter School has been one of the topics of conversation at the School Committee and Town Council meetings this week. The financial forecast for this year and next year's budget is not good and coming up with additional funding (yes, an override option was mentioned) is part of the discussion.
The Charter School was one of the topics due to the State funding formula which would re-allocate additional money from the FPS school budget as BFCCPS expands this September. 98 additional students from Franklin are reported to have won a lottery to attend the new school as it opens in Sep, unfortunately also taking funds from Franklin per the State formula.
This topic was also raised with Franklin's legislative delegates during the School Committee Legislative Forum in February. There is talk of changes to the formula but when and if that happens this year is unknown.
Stay tuned to the budget discussion. The Finance Committee budget hearings open Mar 18, Mar 19, Mar 25, and Mar 26.
From the BFCCPS web page:
Find additional photos and updates from BFCCPS on their web page
http://bfccps.org/march-1st-expansion-update/
The Charter School was one of the topics due to the State funding formula which would re-allocate additional money from the FPS school budget as BFCCPS expands this September. 98 additional students from Franklin are reported to have won a lottery to attend the new school as it opens in Sep, unfortunately also taking funds from Franklin per the State formula.
This topic was also raised with Franklin's legislative delegates during the School Committee Legislative Forum in February. There is talk of changes to the formula but when and if that happens this year is unknown.
Stay tuned to the budget discussion. The Finance Committee budget hearings open Mar 18, Mar 19, Mar 25, and Mar 26.
From the BFCCPS web page:
"We visited the site on Friday March 1st and have lots of new photos to share. You will see lots of interior progress since our last two weeks ago. We will continue to share updates on the building every other week moving forward."
exterior view of the new facility under construction for BFCCPS and scheduled to open in Sep 2019 (BFCCPS photo) |
http://bfccps.org/march-1st-expansion-update/
TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa at OCC Coffeehouse, Wrentham
OCC COFFEEHOUSE
Original Congregational Church
1 East Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
Phone: 508-384-3110
The two concerts listed below are the final ones of our 2018-2019 season. Tickets for the Tom Rush show are selling briskly, so it is likely they will sellout. Tickets for all shows are available at the church office, 508-384-3110, or at www.musicatocc.org.
TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa
Friday, April 5, 7:30 PM
TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa at OCC Coffeehouse |
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences.
Matt Nakoa,Tom's keyboard player and vocalist, now tours internationally, recently performing at The White House, throughout India, and regularly with folk music icon Tom Rush. Matt's piano music has received favorable reviews in publications including The New York Times, and his film scoring has been featured by Disney.
Tickets are $45, in the church sanctuary.
BILL & KATE ISLES
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM
BILL & KATE ISLES |
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, in Fellowship Hall.
2 FHS music students to perform with All Eastern Honors Ensembles
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles to Perform at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA April 4-7, 2019, Pittsburgh PA
More than 780 of the most musically talented high school students in the Eastern region of the United States have been selected to perform in the 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles.
Selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors from Orchestra and Band are the following students from Franklin High School in Franklin, MA.
With assistance from their music teachers, Mrs. Diane Plouffe and Mrs.Leighanne Rudsit, these exceptional students will prepare remarkably challenging music that they will perform under the leadership of prominent conductors in this biennial event. Students will spend three days rehearsing with one of five conductors during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in preparation for performances on April 7, 2019.
The All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, consisting of concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, treble chorus, and jazz ensemble, are organized by members of The National Association for Music Education. The concert band and symphony orchestra will each have approximately one hundred fifty instrumentalists, the jazz ensemble will have eighteen instrumentalists, the treble chorus will have one hundred twenty vocalists, and the mixed chorus will have approximately three hundred twenty vocalists. Student participation from each state is determined by a percentage of the total Eastern Division membership.
Each of the state music educators associations in the Eastern Division (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, PA, VT, Europe) oversee the selection process in their state during the fall of the year before the event and compile ranked lists of recommended juniors and seniors for consideration. The method used to compile the lists varies from state to state, although all recommended students must have been selected to participate in their home all-state festivals.
The committee builds the ensembles from the state presidents' ranked lists, trying to mimic the state population percentages in each group.
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (all except for Jazz, which will perform on Saturday evening, April 6) will perform for an audience of thousands on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in the Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. For program and ticket information please visit www.pmea.org.
More than 780 of the most musically talented high school students in the Eastern region of the United States have been selected to perform in the 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles.
Selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors from Orchestra and Band are the following students from Franklin High School in Franklin, MA.
- Lauren Dennett - Tenor Saxophone
- Brinda Venkataraman - Violin
With assistance from their music teachers, Mrs. Diane Plouffe and Mrs.Leighanne Rudsit, these exceptional students will prepare remarkably challenging music that they will perform under the leadership of prominent conductors in this biennial event. Students will spend three days rehearsing with one of five conductors during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in preparation for performances on April 7, 2019.
The All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, consisting of concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, treble chorus, and jazz ensemble, are organized by members of The National Association for Music Education. The concert band and symphony orchestra will each have approximately one hundred fifty instrumentalists, the jazz ensemble will have eighteen instrumentalists, the treble chorus will have one hundred twenty vocalists, and the mixed chorus will have approximately three hundred twenty vocalists. Student participation from each state is determined by a percentage of the total Eastern Division membership.
Each of the state music educators associations in the Eastern Division (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, PA, VT, Europe) oversee the selection process in their state during the fall of the year before the event and compile ranked lists of recommended juniors and seniors for consideration. The method used to compile the lists varies from state to state, although all recommended students must have been selected to participate in their home all-state festivals.
The committee builds the ensembles from the state presidents' ranked lists, trying to mimic the state population percentages in each group.
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (all except for Jazz, which will perform on Saturday evening, April 6) will perform for an audience of thousands on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in the Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. For program and ticket information please visit www.pmea.org.
Lauren Dennett - Tenor Saxophone; Brinda Venkataraman - Violin |
Franklin SEPAC: Franklin Fire Department Community Day - Mar 23
Franklin Fire Department Community Day
This is an event for those with special needs to become more comfortable with our first responders.
Special appearances by Ben Franklin, therapy dog and newest member of the Franklin PD and Sparky the Fire Dog!
When: Saturday, March 23 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: 40 West Central Street, Fire Dept HQs
Space is limited, please RSVP to Franklin SEPAC at franklinsepac@gmail.com.
Franklin SEPAC: Franklin Fire Department Community Day - Mar 23 |
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