West Seattle, Washington

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month : 11/2009 343 results

Memorial service for Officer Tim Brenton will be this Friday
November 2, 2009 7:35 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

Announced on the SPDBlotter: The memorial service for Officer Tim Brenton, shot and killed Saturday night in Leschi, will be this Friday at 1 pm at KeyArena. Read more here. ADDED 10:05 PM: Central District News has coverage of a candlelight vigil tonight at the scene of the Halloween night shooting. (Photo added 12:56 am; Officer Brenton’s family provided photos to SPD for distribution to media.)

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West Seattle biznotes: Exxon, Tony’s, Office Depot & more
November 2, 2009 5:19 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

EXXON CLOSED: Thanks to Bruce for the photo and the news that the 35th/Barton (map) ex-Exxon station has shut down. He’s been watching the site for a while and reports, “It became an independent gas retailer (having the lowest price in this immediate area for a month or two) but then they ran out … Over the summer I saw very little traffic at this store, even though a gas price was posted to lure people into stopping. While I was taking pictures a Jetta was filling up at the Propel BioDiesel pump [elsewhere on the site], so that is still on and functioning, at least for now.” (6:22 pm – See comment from “C-Rad“ re: reported 7-11 plans.)

TONY’S SEASONAL CLOSURE: Across the street from the ex-Exxon, Tony’s Produce has shut down for its seasonal closure; during the fall hiatus from the produce business, they usually reopen with Christmas trees.

OFFICE DEPOT “TAKING LONGER”: While walking around The Junction today, we peeked into the lower level of Capco Plaza – home to the new QFC – to look for signs of progress on the future Office Depot store. The space is still truly bare-bones, and no one was working inside, so we called building owner/developer Leon Capelouto to check on its status (we’d tried directly calling Office Depot some weeks back, but got no callbacks). He says some modifications to the space have pushed back the timetable a few months, and now it’s looking more likely Office Depot will open around February. “They’re still coming,” he said. Other tenant news in the building – we noticed the signage for this physical-therapy business on the east side of the building:

Capelouto said they just opened today. And a previously mentioned tenant, Desert Sun Tanning, has just gotten permits to start working on its space. One more note: Near the newly restored bus stop in front of the QFC, a worker was installing some enhancements – which he said were structures for people to lean on while awaiting buses.

MARTIAL ARTS/YOGA: Also during our walk, we bumped into Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems, always a good tipster about new-business sightings – most recently, this one – and he directed us to 42nd just south of Alaska, where a martial-arts/yoga business is opening, listing some of its specialties on the window:

And finally:

NEW ALLSTATE OFFICE: Christopher Price has just opened an Allstate Insurance office at 3862 Delridge (map) next to H&R Block. He says 4 licensed agents will be there, speaking English, Spanish and German; the phone number is 938-AUTO but they’re offering home/business/boat insurance too, plus financial services.

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7-digit license plates: Department of Licensing changes the plan
November 2, 2009 4:52 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

They’re still going to move to 7-digit license plates, as reported here and elsewhere recently, but the configuration will be a little simpler – read on for today’s announcement:Read More

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City jail in West Seattle? Next round of meetings moved back
November 2, 2009 4:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news

There hasn’t been much news about it for a while, but a West Seattle site — West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way — remains on the list of possible sites for a regional jail to hold misdemeanor offenders from Seattle and several other north/east King County cities. And the city sends word this afternoon that the timetable for the next round of public comment has just moved back – the draft Environmental Impact Statement won’t be out till February, so public meetings aren’t expected till late February/early March. The process is laid out here; that’ll mean a full year elapsing between the last meetings and the next ones.

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Seattle City Council OK’s “backyard cottages” around the city
November 2, 2009 3:24 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Some have voiced excitement – some have voiced concern. End result: The Seattle City Council voted this afternoon to allow so-called “backyard cottages,” which have been permitted in Southeast Seattle as a pilot project, to be built around the city – with one big change – they were going to issue only 50 permits per year, but now there’s no cap. Read the announcement here:Read More

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New look, new features for West Seattle Junction online
November 2, 2009 2:48 pm
|    Comments Off on New look, new features for West Seattle Junction online
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Want to see more photos from Saturday’s Trick or Treat at The Junction? The Junction’s own official gallery is part of what you’ll find on the newly relaunched West Seattle Junction Association website – wsjunction.org – with added features including an event calendar. They’re on Facebook too, and just added a Twitter account – @WSJA.

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Election 2009: Voters’ open house in Delridge tomorrow
November 2, 2009 2:24 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics


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Haven’t voted yet? If you drop off your ballot at the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center tomorrow afternoon/evening, you’ll find an extra touch – it’s one of six NSCs around the city offering Voters’ Open Houses. Delridge Neighborhoods District Coordinator Ron Angeles explains, “When people drop by with their ballots, we hope to provide them with some information about the role of Neighborhood District Coordinators, and other Department of Neighborhood Programs. We also hope to engage people to find out more about their areas of interest, i.e. Land Use, Transportation, Public Safety, Housing, Parks/Open Space, Human Services, Emergency Preparedness, and particularly, Citizen Participation, Involvement, and Volunteerism. We’ll have coffee, juice, and cookies.” The Delridge NSC is at 5405 Delridge (map), and tomorrow’s open house is 3-7 pm – the dropbox itself is available around the clock till the voting deadline, 8 pm tomorrow.

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Officer Tim Brenton’s West Seattle HS days: An eerie “destiny”
November 2, 2009 12:20 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Flag at half-staff today outside West Seattle High School’s historic entrance
After learning last night that murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton was a former West Seattle resident who graduated from WSHS in 1988, we asked principal Bruce Bivins this morning for permission to review yearbooks so that we could share a little more information about his time here. We are honoring the Seattle PD request not to publish photos until the family and department have approved one for release, so we did not photograph his yearbook picture (the yearbook itself is at right). In the yearbooks, the main activity in which Tim Brenton is listed as participating was the school newspaper The Chinook, which listed him as a reporter. But in the information seniors were asked to share about themselves, his interest in police work was clear: He also listed as an activity Police Explorer Post #943, listed his dad (a now-retired SPD officer) as one of his idols, and listed his own “destiny” as: “To survive 10 years on the LAPD.”

The Seattle Times (WSB partner) has more information on Officer Brenton’s background in this story; our report on Acting Police Chief John Diaz‘s City Council briefing this morning is here, and our coverage of the SPD media briefing yesterday afternoon (with video including Chief Diaz and Mayor Nickels) is here. If you have any information about the attack on Officer Brenton and Officer Britt Sweeney, who survived, tiplines are 206-684-5550 and 800-222-TIPS.

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West Seattle graffiti/tagging vandalism: Two updates
November 2, 2009 11:23 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two items regarding graffiti/tagging vandalism in West Seattle:

CLEANUP: Meredith shared that photo of a worker painting out what appeared alongside the low bridge over the weekend. If you spot graffiti/tagging vandalism on city property – bridges, parks, etc. – you can report it online (go here) or through a special hotline: 684-7587. The city website also notes that private property owners are accountable for cleanup and if they don’t, the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance may apply (read about it here).

YET MORE ‘HOMOPHOBIC GRAFFITI’: We have reported this multiple times since early September and continue to get new reports. Over the weekend, Sarah spotted and photographed several more places in the Morgan Junction area where she saw the same profane three-word declaration/accusation — including a business door and residential garage. Last time we talked with police about this, they were looking to see if the same man arrested last spring might be involved again; the charges filed against him then were dropped because he was found incompetent to stand trial, and the official record of his status ends with an evaluation recommendation. This vandalism has turned up on a multitude of public and private spots around Morgan Junction and north Lincoln Park, so it might not be a stretch to suggest that if you see anyone who looks like they are writing on a sign in that area, call police.

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Update: City Council briefed on murder of Officer Tim Brenton
November 2, 2009 9:35 am
|    Comments Off on Update: City Council briefed on murder of Officer Tim Brenton
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

9:35 AM: Live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online at www.seattlechannel.org) – the Seattle City Council‘s regular Monday morning “briefing” meeting, during which their spokesperson says Acting Police Chief John Diaz will brief them on the Saturday night murder of Officer Timothy Brenton (a West Seattle High School graduate, as reported last night). A tribute is also planned at the start of this afternoon’s 2 pm council meeting, which also can be seen live online and on cable. 9:51 AM: The briefing is over. Chief Diaz called the killing “a setup … This was a hit on law enforcement, this was a hit on government … it could have been anyone” and said SPD is getting tips – two major hotlines: 684-5550 to the Homicide Unit, 800-222-TIPS to CrimeStoppers. To keep officers safe, he said, “we have made some changes in our deployment” – no elaboration, for obvious reasons. Memorial plans are still in the works but will be, he said, late this week or early next week.

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Today in West Seattle: Southwest Pool reopens; 1 day left to vote
November 2, 2009 5:53 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle politics

SOUTHWEST POOL SCHEDULED TO REOPEN THIS MORNING: What was supposed to be a 3-week project to install federally mandated drain upgrades at West Seattle’s only city-run year-round pool turned into an 2 1/2-month shutdown after problems were found – but today, it’s over, and Southwest Pool planned to reopen starting with 6 am lap swim. They’re offering some special “welcome back” pricing – read about it here. One other note:


View 2009 Seattle Election Night Parties Map in a larger map

TWO DAYS AND ONE NIGHT LEFT TO VOTE: That map compiled by West Seattle activist Brian Allen shows the announced Election Night parties for key candidates and campaigns. (Note there’s one scheduled in West Seattle – for city attorney Tom Carr, at Christo’s.) So – have you held up your end of the deal? Vote by end of day tomorrow! TONS of info here.

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Reminder – King County Water Taxi (WS) is docked till spring
November 2, 2009 2:11 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

Thanks to David Hutchinson for that Saturday shot from Seacrest, as the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-downtown runs were in their final hours of the season. The county website says simply it’ll be back in the spring – but much is in play till then – tomorrow’s election, for one, since County Executive candidate Susan Hutchison has criticized the King County Ferry District (including the Water Taxi); then there’s the district’s budget for next year – according to this notice, a public hearing is set for one week from today; see the budget here – it lays out the plan for the Water Taxi to resume service next April as a year-round operation. But first, those Seacrest dock improvements recently signed off on by the city need to be made, too.

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Update: Murdered SPD Officer Tim Brenton had West Seattle ties
November 1, 2009 9:43 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to WSB’er Mike for pointing out that a TV newscast tonight reported murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton had West Seattle ties. We’re still looking up that story but in the meantime, Officer Brenton’s uncle is quoted in this newly updated Seattle Times (WSB partner) story as saying the family had lived in West Seattle. Working to find out more; here’s our coverage (including video) from this afternoon’s SPD briefing on last night’s deadly shooting and its aftermath. ADDED 10:12 PM: Classmates.com lists Tim Brenton as a 1988 West Seattle High School alum – Officer Brenton was 39, so that would match the time frame. On the WSB Facebook wall, Lisa H comments, “Tim was a good friend. Thank you so much for supporting our officers and for your love and prayers and kindnesses. He left behind a beautiful young daughter and son and his wife … Please keep them in your prayers.“

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Election 2009: Mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan’s West Seattle walk
November 1, 2009 8:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

This afternoon marked not only Joe Mallahan‘s first campaign visit to The Junction since he started running for Seattle Mayor, it also marked what was undoubtedly the first campaign stop at the “Hole Foods” site on the Junction/Triangle border:

More photos from Mallahan’s tour – covered for WSB by contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli – ahead – but first (added 9:33 pm) here’s his video of scenes from the tour:

Read More

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Election 2009: Dow Constantine rallies supporters at West 5
November 1, 2009 6:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Two major campaign events in West Seattle today, with just a little over 48 hours to go till the voting ends and the vote-counting begins. One of three West Seattleites on your ballot is Dow Constantine, King County Council chair running for King County Executive in what’s been a tooth-and-nail race against former TV newsperson Susan Hutchison. At a party just wrapping up at West 5 in The Junction – same place we interviewed him in February, the day he started officially campaigning – he rallied supporters and declared his campaign on the threshold of victory. You’ll hear that in the clip above; here (added 7:20 pm) is the rest of the speech, in which he lays out what he believesto be the key differences between himself and his opponent, one more time:

Later, we’ll have coverage from mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan‘s West Seattle walking tour this afternoon. Whoever you’re voting for, get your ballot in the mail by end-of-day Tuesday, or take it to a drop box – the ones in this area are at the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center and White Center Library (full list, with addresses, here).

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Video: Seattle Police briefing on murder of Officer Tim Brenton
November 1, 2009 3:01 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

(photo we sent to Twitter during the briefing, added here 3:46 pm)
ORIGINAL 3:01 PM REPORT: We’re here with the citywide media as the briefing is about to start at police HQ downtown. NWCN is going to televise live, we hear. Our wireless signal is a little spotty here — briefing room is on the lower level – but we will add important info as we can (via Twitter if this signal drops out). BRIEFING: Field Training Officer Tim Brenton (sp?) and Officer Brit Sweeney (sp?) are those involved. No one in custody. Mayor and acting chief Diaz say no one will rest until the killer/s are caught. (added 4:45 pm – video of acting SPD Chief John Diaz’s entire statement)

(added 4:52 pm — video of Mayor Nickels’ entire 2-minute statement, which opened the briefing)

Assistant chief: “This is an assassination.” Officer who survived is described as having taken the actions of a 10-year veteran. If any info, call 206-233-5000 with tips. CrimeStoppers: 206-343-2020. Tips can be anonymous. Vehicle description is no clearer – still remains either a white-ish light blue potentially silver smallish subcompact or compact, per assistant chief. Don’t know if it’s four door or two door. Detectives are “literally scrubbing the city.” Not sure if it was hit by gunfire or not. Using onboard video of every police car that may have been in the area to see if they can find anything. No description of possible suspect/s that can be shared at this time.

3:37 PM: No date for the memorial yet. A fund will be set up shortly for the officer’s family. CrimeStoppers will offer a $20,000 reward. The slain officer has been with the department about 8 years, transferred from LaConner Police; he is the son of a retired Seattle Police officer and also has family ties to the Seattle Fire Department, as well as two children, ages 8 and 11. No photo of him has been released yet. They are not describing Officer Sweeney’s hometown; several police officers are with her, and Assistant Chief Nick Metz says that while she is devastated, she is being a “true professional” and assisting them as best she can with the investigation. (added 5:39 pm – here is our video of the entirety of his statement)

3:41 PM: The briefing is over. We have video of the mayor and acting chief’s statements and will publish those here when we are back at HQ, for those who would like to see them. Bottom line: The killer or killers are still at large, and the police department will work tirelessly – as Assistant Chief Metz said, it’s a business where you don’t get to close down and take a break after a tragedy – to catch them, but your help is important too, if you see or hear anything you feel may help – the killer/s could be anywhere.

4:53 PM: Officer Brenton’s body has been moved to Bonney Watson Funeral Home, with a ceremonial procession as escort, according to Seattle Police via Twitter. We are almost finished uploading our three video clips from this afternoon’s news conference – the entirety of what Acting SPD Chief Diaz, Mayor Nickels, and Assistant Chief Nick Metz had to say; Assistant Chief Jim Pugel also participated in the briefing.

ADDED 5:58 PM: SPD has issued a news release recapping the main points of the briefing – we have cut and pasted it to include here for those who’d like to read it – it does clarify that there is a $21,000 reward, $1K from CrimeStoppers, $20K from the Seattle Police Guild – read on:Read More

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West Seattle biz: Heavenly Wholesale opens, All the Best closing
November 1, 2009 2:10 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Diane for the photos and information: The Heavenly Wholesale/Leslie’s storefront in The Junction, east side of California SW south of Alaska, where Funky Jane’s was before moving to California/Oregon, opens this week, 10 am-6 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm Sundays. Here’s Jill, longtime Heavenly proprietor:

The former “Heavenly” storefront in The Triangle is the building where Greg Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours recently announced they plan to open a storefront. Here’s Leslie, indeed the same Leslie who formerly operated Leslie’s Country Store in the California SW location that is now home to The Bohemian:

Another business note:


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First reported in the WSB Forums by “hammerhead” – All the Best Pet Care on Alki is closing. They will have a sale next weekend, and then the last day is currently scheduled as one week from today. All the Best also recently closed its Aurora location, but has others around the city. The Alki shop opened two years ago.

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Give – and receive! West Seattle’s Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale is nearing
November 1, 2009 12:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | Holidays | West Seattle news

For the second year, a Holiday Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale is in the works for West Seattle – and it’s time to get your donations in – to save money, “green up” your holidays, and give a boost to WestSide Baby, Family Works, and CoolMom, which is again organizing the sale. Last year’s first-ever event was popular, as our photo above shows, and preparations for the encore are well under way. The sale is 9 am-1 pm November 14th at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) but you don’t have to go there to donate – collections are under way at various locations. First, here’s the “how” of it:

1. De-clutter and detach from all the unused toys and gear in that closet/garage.
2. Bag up your items: toys, sports clothes and products, baby gear, etc. (no clothing or car seats)
3. Donate your items at one of our 8 West Seattle locations before 4 pm Wednesday, November 11
4. Include your name on your donation bag (or on a slip of paper inside the bag)
5. Receive a $5 credit toward your purchase on the day of the sale.
6. Come to the sale, redeem your credit, and shop!

Any time before the deadline, take your “quality used toy(s)” donations to any of these locations, where you’ll find a drop bin:

PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor)
Husky Deli
C&P Coffee
Gatewood Elementary School
Arbor Heights Elementary School
Community School of West Seattle
Pathfinder School
Alki Co-op Preschool


By the way, if you’d like to get involved with CoolMom, the West Seattle group meets the first Wednesday of the month – that’s next Wednesday, Nov. 4 – 7 pm at C & P.

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Election 2009: Joe Mallahan scheduled to visit West Seattle today
November 1, 2009 5:00 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

This was announced before the Seattle Police tragedy Saturday night, so we’ll be checking later this morning to make sure it hasn’t changed, but for now: One day after Mike McGinn‘s North Admiral town hall, opponent Joe Mallahan plans to visit West Seattle today. That word comes from Vlad Oustimovitch, who says Mallahan plans to start in The Junction at about 2:30 pm (starting around Easy Street Records), continue on to Youngstown Arts Center around 3:30 pm, and Seacrest Pier around 4, and anyone is welcome to join in, though this is a walking tour rather than a Q/A sitdown.

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Election 2009: What Mike McGinn said at his 3rd WS “town hall”
November 1, 2009 4:44 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Mike McGinn answering a question about working with city councilmembers if he’s elected mayor)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When the final weekend of a campaign rolls around, a major candidate is often seen in just a few ways – a TV ad, a mailer blitz, shouting amplified exhortations to supporters at one or two last big rallies.

Emblematic of the way Seattle mayoral candidate Mike McGinn has run his campaign, with just a few days to go, he was in the basement of the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library on Saturday morning, speaking softly and casually with about a dozen people. We published a quick update on this as it happened, but now, for those who missed it and are still making up their minds, here are the details of what he said, and what he was asked.

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Seattle Police officer killed: First official statement
November 1, 2009 4:09 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

Seattle Police have just released their first official statement about the shooting death of an officer in the Central District late last night — a crime that affects the entire city, as the first such murder in the line of duty in Seattle in 15 years, and one that drew officers (including a contingent from West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct) to the scene, where searching and blockading was followed by a somber procession earlier this morning, escorting the slain officer’s body to the Medical Examiner‘s office. Here is the entirety of the statement just published on SPDBlotter:

On October 31st, shortly after 10:00 p.m., a Field Training Officer (FTO) and his female student officer were parked in their patrol car in the 100 Block of 29th Avenue South. The student officer was seated in the driver’s seat and the FTO was in the passenger seat. A vehicle that has been described as a light-colored sedan pulled up next to the parked patrol car and the suspect(s) fired multiple shots into the patrol car. The Field Training Officer was struck multiple times, killing him. The student officer received minor injuries. She was able to get out of the patrol car, return fire several times to the fleeing suspect vehicle, and call for additional units. Officers from all precincts responded, as well as Homicide and CSI. This investigation is very much active and ongoing, and is a priority for the Department. Information is limited at this time, as it is still early in the investigation. There is a press conference tentatively scheduled for later this afternoon, where we hope to provide additional information.

Central District News, one of our fellow independent community-collaborative online news services, has been on the story all night/morning – they have even more details here, and you can watch here for updates. SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SPD will brief media at 3 pm today downtown. The acting chief, an assistant chief, and mayor will be there, according to the alert we received.

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