West Seattle, Washington

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day : 09/11/2011 17 results

West Seattle beverages: Whale Tail Ale for The Whale Trail (& others)
November 9, 2011 11:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

It was Whale Tail meets Whale Trail tonight at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – hub of launch-party night for charity-benefiting Whale Tail Ale. Each establishment that sells Whale Tail chooses which nonprofit will benefit, and The Feedback chose The Whale Trail, founded by West Seattleite Donna Sandstrom (second from right), posing with Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert (left), Tony, and Gia. The Whale Trail educates people about orcas, and encourages land-based viewing. They had info on hand for Feedback visitors tonight – Lynne and Evangeline showed off the setup:

We went to White Center to check out a few other Whale Tail Ale-serving participants – like Full Tilt Ice Cream, where we found proprietor Justin Cline with Shannon:

Justin is, you may have heard, celebrating the opening of Full Tilt’s fourth store, in Ballard (more here). Across 16th SW, Company is pouring Whale Tail Ale too:

That’s Aaron and Micah, who is a brewer for Big Al Brewing, which brewed Whale Tail Ale as well as its predecessor, Löwman Brau. What’s next? You’ll have to wait and see. But check out Whale Tail first. Here’s where to get it (and who they’re donating to).

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Seen on the West Seattle Bridge: Wrong-way driver
November 9, 2011 11:14 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

First, Grant mentioned it on the WSB Facebook page. Then Rosalie e-mailed a longer report:

Tonight at 9:30 while driving home (west) on the Spokane viaduct , a car was driving east on the westbound lanes. A little scary, drivers had to move out of the way. The wrong way driver made no attempt to turn around or stop, just kept driving along. It didn’t appear to be a cop or ER vehicle. If you hear about this from others I hope you’ll post something, it would be interesting to find out what happened. In order get on those westbound lanes the car would have had to come down the bridge on the wrong side…

We have an inquiry out to police to ask if they got involved at any point. (Those westbound lanes, of course, were to close about half an hour later for another round of construction work.)

1:43 AM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says police did get multiple reports about the wrong-way driver, who was “last reported to be heading eastbound up Columbian Way, so South Precinct officers went to look for it.” No report that the driver was found, though.

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Preview tomorrow’s West Seattle Art Walk (and more)
November 9, 2011 9:10 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Forecast looks promising for tomorrow night’s West Seattle Art Walk – not always something you can count on by the time we get to November. So you can plan ahead, here are a few previews. At Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction (4306 SW Alaska), West Seattleites Andy Blakney and Lisa Geertsen are curating “Northwest Anvil III: A Survey of Contemporary Northwest Ironwork,” opening during the Art Walk, 6-9 pm. The exhibition features work by Northwest Blacksmith Association members. Organizers explain: “Our goal for putting this show together is to bring awareness to the community the possibilities that lie within the art of forged metal.”

At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) tomorrow night, it’s a doubleheader:

Barbara Noonan will display paintings. And it’s the monthly Wine Club event. C & P is at 5612 California SW.

At The Kenney (WSB sponsor), you’ll enjoy jazz as well as art:

That’s singer Julie Cascioppo, who is scheduled to perform (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).

At Knows Perfume, proprietor Christen Cottam is having a food drive from Art Walk night till 5 pm Sunday. She says, “Food for the two-legged and the four-legged is welcome and much appreciated. Customers can bring a big bag of food (using their best judgment), or a gift card to Safeway, Petco, Costco or the like (minimum $15) and will receive a a card for 15% off their next visit to Knows.” (4536 California SW)

Want to buy art even more than look at it? You can do that most places, but not the kind of art – vintage! – you’ll find at the Easy Street Records flea market “Cheapside Review,” including posters, as explained here, during Art Walk.

Across the street at Cupcake Royale, there’s a music tie-in – Julie Peña’s photo essay with “early photos of the locally-grown Brandi Carlile Band,” according to the announcement we received.

The announcement continues: “These images explore the personalities of the musicians and captures some moments behind the red ropes before their artistic success was a known quantity. These images are intended to appeal to fans and non-fans alike as it discusses the changes implicit in an artist’s rise to fame.” Julie will be there 6-8:30 pm during the Art Walk.

Here’s the official Art Walk map/venue list; lots more previews can be found on the official Art Walk website.

BONUS: In North Delridge, the West Seattle Tool Library opens its doors on Art Walk night – the second Thursday – for “Ask an Expert,” a unique event to empower do-it-yourselfers. 6-8 pm in their location on the east side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), you’ll find free expert advice, this month from Mighty House Construction, Gray Sky Farms, and Solar Epiphany.

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Update: Metro’s West Seattle ‘restructuring’ meeting – and future ‘pathways’
November 9, 2011 7:08 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

We’re at the Chief Sealth International High School Galleria (2600 SW Thistle), where the first of two Metro meetings on proposed West Seattle route restructuring, which has drawn strong reaction since emerging more than 2 weeks ago, is under way. It’s purely an “open house” format – no presentations or speeches – so you can drop by and ask questions, voice comments/concerns, any time until its scheduled end at 8:30. (Based on how meetings in this format tend to go, we wouldn’t advise waiting till the last half-hour – no guarantee they won’t fold up early.) Metro employees are stationed around the room with easels, maps, and butcher paper for recording comments – there are more than half a dozen tables you can sit at, too, to fill out a “Transit System Restructuring Feedback Form.” The first question: “How might these suggested changes affect you or others in your community?” We’re going to check out a few of the easel stations – which appear to go beyond route-restructuring information – and will add more to this story later.

ADDED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT: The conversations at the tables were the liveliest we heard – particularly voices of those concerned about the plan to cut Route 37, leaving Beach Drive without bus service, and Route 22, leaving Gatewood without off-peak service, as well as the southern leg of Route 21, which currently serves Arbor Heights. Local pedestrian advocate – and Gatewood resident – Chas Redmond told a Metro staffer that the choice of meeting location was ironic, as 22 currently serves the school, where you will find large groups of students waiting to catch buses in the afternoon. Besides “don’t cut (whatever),” some alternate routing suggestions did make it onto the butcher paper. Metro says the comments will be considered as they draw up the next revision of the proposal for presentation at meetings that likely will be held in January. You still have chances to offer your thoughts – 10:30 am-1 pm Thursday, for example, Metro will have a table in the cafeteria at South Seattle Community College, and a meeting like this one is set for Madison Middle School at 6:30 pm one week from tonight (November 17th).

“Transit Pathways” were featured on the north side of the open-house area – Metro’s first pass at figuring out what buses that use the Alaskan Way Viaduct will do when the rest of it is replaced by the tunnel, in terms of replacing the pathway into/out of central downtown. Right now, they’re looking at four alternatives for getting people into downtown, all based on using Highway 99, with a transit lane in place on the northbound side, between the West Seattle Bridge and King Street. The options are different variants of going in through Pioneer Square, whose business community will be involved in upcoming conversations about the “pathways.”

Interesting note from the timeline on this part of the project: It says the Columbia and Seneca ramps onto/off Highway 99 will close in Winter 2015. That would be a full year ahead of when the tunnel is supposed to be in operation. A final decision on the “pathways” is to be made next year.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen this car, stolen late today?
November 9, 2011 6:17 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Keep watch for Corina‘s car. She writes, “My black Nissan Pathfinder 1992 with a yellow ‘I’m a circa regular” sticker was just stolen from my house” a little more than an hour ago. 5300 block of 18th SW; call 911 if you see it.

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Election 2011: Wednesday vote count; no notable changes
November 9, 2011 6:13 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

It’s all but impossible to tell how many ballots are still “out there,” but the ones counted as of 4:30 this afternoon now equal 28 percent of the registered voters in Seattle, 30% of those in the county. No outcome has changed in the races we’re watching, but here are those races, by percentage, after another vote count was released late today:

SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DIST. PROP 1 ($60 car-tab tax):
59% no
41% yes

SEATTLE PROP 1 (Families and Education Levy)
59% yes
41% no

STATE INITIATIVE 1183 (liquor privatization)
60% yes
40% no

STATE INITIATIVE 1125 (tolling)
51% no
49% yes

STATE INITIATIVE 1163 (home care)
67% yes
33% no

See other statewide ballot measures’ results here

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD:
Position 1 – Maier* 52%, Peaslee 48%
Position 2 – Carr* 55%, Martin 45%
Position 3 – Martin-Morris* 61%, Buetow 38%
Position 6 – McLaren 51%, Sundquist* 48%
Today Marty McLaren answered our request from last night for an early comment: “The thing I know for sure, if I am elected, is my intention to start visiting WS Schools right away, and figuring out how best to communicate best with parents and staff. That goes for the wider community as well; there are many groups, organizations, and constituencies to connect with. Also, of course, educate myself more thoroughly on our issues…”

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL:
Position 1 – Godden* 53%, Forch 47%
Position 3 – Harrell* 62%, Meacham 37%
Position 5 – Rasmussen* 73%, Pusey 26%
Position 7 – Burgess* 81%, Schraer 18%
Position 9 – Clark* 66%, Ferguson 34%

KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8
McDermott* 67%
Toledo 32%
(At right, the incumbent at 35th/Fauntleroy tonight with a “thank you” sign.)

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION
Position 2 – Tarleton* 56%, Pope 43%
Position 5 – Bryant* 62%, Willard 37%

(Asterisks denote incumbents.) Next King County results release: Around 4:30 pm Thurssday.

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Beverages with benefits: Hotwire ‘Gobbler’ challenge, Java Bean food drive, Whale Tail Ale beneficiaries
November 9, 2011 4:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

HOTWIRE’S “GOBBLER” CHALLENGE: Starting tomorrow, if you brave “The Gobbler” at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), $1 will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank. “The Gobbler” is a unique drink flavoring, involving what Hotwire proprietor Lora Swift insists is turkey gravy, cranberry syrup, and fresh orange peel, which can be added to a latté, Americano, or just plain steamed milk. Try it, then “like” Hotwire on Facebook, write “I Gobbled” on their FB wall, and they’ll post the Gobbler badge (left) on yours.

JAVA BEAN FOOD DRIVE: Tomorrow is also the start of the annual food drive at Java Bean Coffee. From owner Tony Hoyt: “Java Bean Organic Coffee House, located at 2920 SW Avalon Way, will be hosting the 21st annual Food Drive for Northwest Harvest. They will be collecting food on site from Thursday, November 10th – Tuesday, November 22nd. Thanksgiving type foods such as stuffing mix, canned yams, cranberries, peanut butter and baby food are most appreciated.”

WHALE TAIL ALE BENEFICIARIES: Before you go out tonight to party-hop the Whale Tail Ale launch events, if you’re trying to decide where to go, consider the list of which nonprofits are benefiting from sales of the new brew at which locations:

FEEDBACK LOUNGE: The Whale Trail
WEST 5: Log House Museum
SHADOWLAND: Seal Sitters
THE MISSION: Alki Elementary School
BEVERIDGE PLACE: Nature Consortium
THE BRIDGE: Hickman House
LOCOL: Roxhill Elementary
AVALON: West Seattle Food Bank
COMPANY: White Center Food Bank
BIG AL BREWING: White Center Food Bank
FULL-TILT ICE CREAM: White Center Food Bank

Tonight’s party starts at 6. But the charity cut continues throughout the span of the weeks/months Whale Tail is available.

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West Seattle Crime Watch update: Stolen puppy returned
November 9, 2011 2:33 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

E-mail just in from the Toledo family says they’ve recovered the puppy reported stolen during a burglary at a Delridge home belonging to a relative of King County Council candidate Diana Toledo, “dropped off at a local shelter this morning” by a couple who saw a TV news report about the theft. Their note thanks all the local media outlets who ran stories about the missing dog (here’s ours from last weekend).

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Controlling Lowman Beach sewer overflows: Open house Monday
November 9, 2011 2:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Anne Higuera)
Another community open house has just been announced for the ongoing process of designing the Combined Sewer Overflow-control project across from Lowman Beach Park, to include a million-gallon underground storage tank. This is one of two CSO-control projects King County is currently planning in West Seattle, and it’s known as the Murray project, after the pump station that’s beneath the park, and the “basin” that feeds it. This comes shortly after a round of test drilling to gather more data about geological conditions in the area (photo above). The open house is set for 6:30 pm next Monday (November 14th) at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). From the county’s announcement:

During the meeting, project staff will discuss design themes and present conceptual drawings that were developed in response to the ideas community members shared at an all-day design workshop on Oct. 29. People are invited to review and comment on these early design plans, and to provide any additional feedback.

P.S. We recorded the project’s most recent open house, in October, on video, previously unpublished, in case you’re following closely and want to know what’s been said so far:

More information on the Murray CSO project is here.

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Reopen West Seattle schools? Here’s a new chance to speak out
November 9, 2011 1:15 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

How should Seattle Public Schools deal with school overcrowding? You get another chance to make suggestions. Days after the district confirmed that it’s pushed back the decisionmaking process on short-term “capacity management” – particularly, where to reopen schools next year – it’s announced a new set of community meetings. The first one is in West Seattle: 6-7:30 pm Monday, November 28th, in the library at the new Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon). Previously, the district had said decisions would be made this month, and has had only one meeting in this area (October 6th – WSB coverage here). Today’s announcement says the meeting will include “presentations by Seattle Public School Capital Projects and Planning staff members, followed by a question and answer period. Comments from the community will be collected, recorded, considered and included in the District’s Short Term Capacity Management planning process.” The district’s webpage about the “capacity management” process is here.

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West Seattle scene: Impromptu midday music at Meander’s
November 9, 2011 1:03 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Texts from WSB’ers may bring images of car crashes or other unhappiness – or maybe, a spontaneous outbreak of art or music! WSB contributor Keri DeTore just shared this photo of the latter, with news that “Singer Amber Flame is doing an impromptu set at Meander’s.” (That’s Meander’s Kitchen north of Morgan Junction.)

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‘Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard’ in budget? Decision tomorrow
November 9, 2011 12:21 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Sketch from West Seattleites’ 2008 City Council presentation about “boulevard” vision for Fauntleroy Way)
During yesterday’s City Council budget meeting, dozens of decisions were made, while a few more alternatives were proposed. One of them involves the so-called “Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard” concept, which could eventually transform that arterial, through The Triangle as it comes off the bridge and toward The Junction, into a street with a tree-lined median. As reported here last week, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has proposed earmarking $250,000 in the budget to study and plan for this concept that’s been under consideration for more than three years. Yesterday, Councilmember Mike O’Brien offered an alternative proposal that would instead mark the same amount for as-yet-unspecified neighborhood transportation proposals in the city. Debate ensued; councilmembers including Sally Clark and budget chair Jean Godden voiced support for the “Green Boulevard” study/preps. When the council meets tomorrow, it will vote on which one (if either) goes into their final proposal. (The agenda should be here later; final budget adoption is currently still scheduled for Nov. 21.)

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New map, new brine: Preview of winter-weather road readiness
November 9, 2011 10:22 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The livecast has ended, but we’ll replace the video window with the archived version as soon as it’s available; scroll down to read key points from today’s announcement)

(NOTE: Clicking “play” will now show you the ARCHIVED video from this morning’s livecast)
10:22 AM: If you click “play,” you’ll tune into the Seattle Channel‘s online-only live broadcast of an event happening right now – Mayor McGinn and other city reps discussing what’s being done to be ready for potential snow, ice, and other winter road challenges this winter. We’ll summarize key points as it happens/afterward. This is happening at SDOT’s Charles Street facilty on the south side of downtown.

10:30 AM UPDATE: So far the mayor has announced:
–“More effective” salt-brine solution for roads than was used last year
–Seattle Public Utilities and Parks will provide “additional drivers” during storms
–Webpage with street conditions, including where plows have been (see that map page here; screengrab follows)

–SnowWatch tool, to “track and forecast snowfall at the neighborhood level”

10:51 AM UPDATE: The livecast is over; reporters’ questions had moved on to unrelated topics from the election. For the official news release regarding winter preparations, read on:Read More

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West Seattle Wednesday: Metro meeting; Explorer West open house; Whale Tail Ale launch; more
November 9, 2011 10:17 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to Eugene for sharing the photo of his 3-year-old son, playing in autumn leaves!)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TEST: One more reminder, this happens at 11 am – the first nationwide test of this system, and remember, it’s JUST a test; don’t call police/fire/911. Here’s our preview from yesterday.

ROAD REMINDERS: Nightly closures of the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct set to continue tonight, 10 pm-5 am … Concrete-panel replacement at 16th/Myrtle scheduled to continue today.

WHALE TAIL ALE: It’s the sequel to Lowman Brau, and it too will raise money for charity – Whale Tail Ale is launched tonight in simultaneous parties starting at 6 pm, at West Seattle/White Center beverage establishments including Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – full details here.

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) invites interested families to tonight’s Open House, 6:30-8:00 pm. The formal program starts at 6:30 pm in the school’s gymnasium (10015 28th SW) followed by an opportunity to tour the campus and meet students/staff. For more information about Explorer West and the admissions process: explorer-west.org

METRO MEETING: Tonight’s your first of two chances in West Seattle to talk about Metro Transit‘s future and its draft proposal for “restructuring” the route system, 6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School (details here)

LEARN ABOUT BACKYARD COTTAGES: Backyard cottage workshop by Ncompass Cottage Company (WSB sponsor) with Microhouse, 7 pm at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW); details here, including how to RSVP. **Afternoon note – Ncompass tells us the workshop is now a full house, no more room.**

COMMUNITY CENTERS’ FUTURE: Alki Community Center gets its turn tonight for a meeting to talk about how things might work under terms of the city’s proposed budget changes, 7 pm (details here)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: The group’s monthly meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (agenda here), 9131 California SW.

JOIN THE GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE: West Seattle Garden Tour Committee Meeting and Potluck. The West Seattle Garden Tour Committee is actively seeking new volunteers. The committee meets once a month at an appointed member’s home for a potluck and progress report. Interested in tonight’s meeting? E-mail westseattlegt@gmail.com or check out westseattlegardentour.com. to learn more. An agenda with meeting location and driving directions will be provided to anyone interested in attending.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car, bicycle to watch for
November 9, 2011 8:08 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports with means of transportation to watch for – stolen car and stolen bike (the latter, part of what was taken in a garage break-in) – read on:Read More

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Video: Chimney fire in West Seattle townhouse, $60,000 damage
November 9, 2011 2:40 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 2:40 AM REPORT: More Seattle Fire crews are on their way to what started as a not-so-big response at a multiplex near 26th/Thistle in West Seattle, but is now described as a “roof fire.” We’ll be there shortly.

2:50 AM UPDATE: Our crew is just arriving and says this is a complex right across the street from Chief Sealth International High School. Scanner traffic says a chimney fire has extended into more than one unit, but the fire is under control. Police are being called for traffic control on SW Thistle. Our crew says firefighters are cutting ventilation holes in the building’s roof.

3:32 AM UPDATE: Damage estimate and cause investigation have to wait till fire investigators can make it here from another major fire scene they have been working elsewhere in the city (an ATM/bank fire in Madison Park). No injuries reported here, and the fire is pretty much out. We’ll add followup info whenever it’s available later this morning.

1:50 PM: Official investigation and damage info just in from SFD’s Kyle Moore: He says the first report was a “911 call reporting a fire from a fireplace that had grown out of control,” and that, “A Seattle Fire Investigator is calling this accidental in nature caused by a chimney fire that expanded to the wood walls around it. The damage estimate is $50,000 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents.” The Red Cross is helping those who weren’t able to go back into their units.

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Admiral Neighborhood Association: Bus beef; Nakata tribute; elections; possible tree lighting
November 9, 2011 2:38 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“We’re an urban village. Urban villages are supposed to have bus service.”

So said one attendee at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, voicing opposition to the Metro restructuring proposal that could end Route 55 service in North Admiral.

Though there wasn’t a formal topic or presentation, the proposed Metro restructuring for next year, to be launched in conjunction with the debut of RapidRide, was a hot topic. Attendees were urged to speak up at Metro’s two West Seattle meetings about “restructuring” – the first of which is tonight (6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School). And ANA will draft a letter objecting to the prospective elimination of North Admiral service, while also extending an invitation for a Metro rep to speak at its December meeting.

“Can we make a trade for light rail?” somebody quipped.

“I’m a big fan of mass transit and I want to see it succeed,” said outgoing ANA secretary Jim Cavin. He, by the way, was the lone group leader not to be running in the election that also happened during last night’s meeting, along with a discussion of two potentially big events the group is planning before the year’s out – a tribute, and a tree lighting:Read More

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