West Seattle, Washington

19 Saturday

66℉

month : 04/2014 324 results

Update: Police search in Alki area after home hit by BBs
April 20, 2014 10:52 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

10:52 PM: Police are out in the 3000 block of Alki after what was first reported as a possible drive-by shooting. No injuries are reported, but some damage was apparently done by someone firing what radio communication indicates was likely a BB gun.

MONDAY 1:27 PM UPDATE: Police confirm BBs were what hit the residence on Alki, “two holes,” they say. No vehicle or suspect seen; no injuries.

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Last-minute campaigning with 2 more days to vote on Proposition 1
April 20, 2014 9:08 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

IF you haven’t yet marked and returned your ballot – just one issue, Proposition 1 for Metro and roads money – you have two more days; it’s due Tuesday night (April 22nd). Last-minute campaigning continues – dozens of “No on Prop 1” signs turned up along West Seattle arterials overnight; Prop 1 supporters say King County Executive Dow Constantine plans to campaign for it tomorrow morning at the California/Alaska RapidRide stop in The Junction before catching the bus to downtown, where he and Mayor Ed Murray plan a 9:30 am rally in the Benaroya Hall lobby.

Whichever way you’re voting, you can either put a stamp on your ballot and drop it in the mail, or you can drop it off – no stamp required – at the West Seattle or White Center ballot vans 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, 10 am-8 pm Tuesday. (There are dropoff locations elsewhere – maybe one close to someplace else you’ll be – locations are listed here.)

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Free shredding, recycling events in West Seattle next weekend
April 20, 2014 4:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

In honor of both Earth Day and spring cleaning, you might be interested in two events next weekend:

(Watch your docs get shredded! WSB photo from April 2013 event)
FREE SHREDDING ON SATURDAY: Next Saturday (April 26th) at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW), 9 am-noon, Roger Steiner of IHeartWestSeattle.com co-sponsors a free shredding event. Here’s a page full of information on what to shred and what not to shred. (C&P and IHWS are both WSB sponsors.)

FREE RECYCLING ON SUNDAY: Then on Sunday (April 27th), it’s the next Fauntleroy UCC Church (9130 California SW) Recycle Roundup, 9 am-3 pm, with a long, long list of items accepted by 1 Green Planet at no charge (the church’s Green Committee, which organizes this popular event twice a year, will accept free-will donations). See the list here.

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Think summer: Signup time for 2014 Westside Basketball Camp for Girls
April 20, 2014 4:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Think summer: Signup time for 2014 Westside Basketball Camp for Girls
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Third- through eighth-grade girls are invited to sign up for this year’s Westside Basketball Camp for Girls, led by the West Seattle High School division-champion girls-basketball coaches, head coach Sonya Elliott and assistant coaches Ashley Iaone and Jackie Breding. It’s July 14-17, 9 am-1 pm, $95 for the entire four-day session. Get the registration form here; find out more at westseattlegirlsbasketball.wordpress.com.

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West Seattle scene: Is this where the Easter Bunny hides?
April 20, 2014 2:04 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

“Can you see the petrified Easter Bunny in the photo from Schmitz Park?” asked the photographer who sent us the image. (Closer look here.)

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Congratulations! Three West Seattle schools win Washington Achievement Awards
April 20, 2014 11:42 am
|    Comments Off on Congratulations! Three West Seattle schools win Washington Achievement Awards
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Chief Sealth International High School, West Seattle High School, and Denny International Middle School have just received Washington Achievement Awards for academic improvement/growth, according to our area’s Seattle Public Schools Board rep, Marty McLaren. They are among 29 in the district. McLaren announced, “West Seattle High School and Chief Seattle International High Schools were both recognized for High Progress. Denny International Middle School received special recognition for Math Growth.” A few hours after McLaren’s announcement, Sealth’s first-year principal Aida Fraser-Hammer sent one, noting, “This is an extraordinary accomplishment and is a direct reflection of the hard work and the dedication of our teachers and students, and the support of our parents.” Overall, McLaren added, “It’s also important to recognize the tireless commitment and enthusiasm of all of our staff members throughout the district. Congratulations and thanks to all for bringing our students so far.” An award ceremony is set for Thursday in Lacey.

(SPS is on spring break until tomorrow; if any other winning principals send announcements when classes resume, we’ll add them to the story.)

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West Seattle Sunday: Easter 2014, and other highlights
April 20, 2014 5:04 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Today is Easter Sunday, and the sixth day of Passover. And it’s the time of year when – as shown in Danny McMillin‘s photo – the geese known as brant are in our area fueling up for their northward migration. Enjoy watching them while they’re here. And enjoy your day, which includes these highlights:

EASTER SERVICES: West Seattle churches that sent requests to be listed for today are on this list (starting with the UCC churches’ combined sunrise service at Alki). Several also are featuring egg hunts after/between services.

SALVATION ARMY EGG HUNT: 9:45 am in the gym at their White Center/West Seattle facility. (9050 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, it’s on, 10 am-2 pm. Special extra today: Blue Geisha Tattoo will be back for a second Easter Sunday with free facepainting and temp tattoos for kids. (44th/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Late start for Easter Sunday, noon, Walt Hundley Playfield @ High Point. (31st/Myrtle)

GARDENING PRESENTATION AT WEST SEATTLE BRANCH LIBRARY: Yes, Seattle Public Library branches ARE open today, and at the Admiral branch, you’ll find a special 2 pm presentation about cool-season gardening – details in our calendar listing. (2326 42nd SW)

ALL-AGES LIVE MUSIC: The Feelgood Band of the Year performs at Skylark Café and Club, 4 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SING FOR OSO: As previewed here earlier in the weekend, the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle is hosting a karaoke fundraiser for mudslide victims today, 3-7 pm, donations to the American Red Cross. (2234 SW Orchard)

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Why this house will soon be floating past West Seattle’s shore
April 19, 2014 9:50 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news

Tonight, that 980-square-foot cottage is on the South Park riverfront site where it’s sat for 95 years, at 12th Avenue South and South Elmgrove. In a few days, you might notice it as it floats past West Seattle’s eastern/northeastern shore. It’s up on blocks and wheels, preparing for a move that’s scheduled to start early Monday. The house will be loaded onto a barge by the house-moving specialists at Nickel Bros. (which had listed it here), and taken to its new home on Orcas Island in the San Juans. While the house’s new owner is paying for that, Seattle Public Utilities is the agency clearing the site for future use as a street-end pocket park. The park will fulfill SPU’s obligation to provide something in exchange for taking over a street end elsewhere in South Park to build a new pump station. County records show the city paid $180,000 six months ago for the house and its 2,000-square-foot riverside lot.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day countdown: 3 weeks!
April 19, 2014 7:31 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

If you love to shop garage/yard sales, only three weeks until the big day – the 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 10th. 180 sales are registered – individual, block, group, business, even entire apartment/condo complexes, all over the peninsula! If you’re having a sale but haven’t signed up yet, 4 more days to do that by going here; deadline is Wednesday night, April 23rd, so we can make the maps/guides available a week in advance (you’ll find them here and at westseattlegaragesale.com).

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Happening now: Junction Tax-Free Day; Record Store Day
April 19, 2014 4:41 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Junction Tax-Free Day; Record Store Day
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The rain stopped! (For now.) So if it kept you home – get out and go shop The Junction in the final hours of “Tax-Free” Sale Day ’14. Above, that’s Courtney Sievertsen of Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) on 42nd SW north of SW Edmunds – a reminder that Junction shopping stretches beyond California SW. Red balloons mark the participating stores/restaurants; today’s participant list is here. Another reason to visit The Junction, the Record Store Day celebration/sale (lineup here) that’s continuing into the evening at Easy Street Records, with special guests:

West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants isn’t performing but he’s been deejaying and signing. And the grand finale at ESR is still a few hours away – Rose Windows, live in-store at 7 pm.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Lincoln Park robbery arrest; more
April 19, 2014 4:10 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

A brand-new update on SPD Blotter answers some questions we’d been looking into involving police presence at and near Lincoln Park late last night. Police responding to a report of some kind of fight in the park around 11 pm found a teenager who said another teen had stolen his phone. They found and arrested a suspect – and recovered the stolen phone – on a bus south of the park. Read the full summary on SPD Blotter.

One other Crime Watch report in queue: Another North Admiral car prowl this week; the victim, who didn’t want her name to be published, said, “Our vehicle’s window was broken (Wednesday night). We heard a loud sound around 9:30 pm and saw a white commercial van with blue lettering driving away. We didn’t think anything of it and then discovered the broken window (in the) morning. Nothing was stolen.” (One more reminder: Even if nothing’s taken, even if there’s no damage, police say, please report car prowls! You can even do that online.)

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Video: About the Ospreys’ flyover …
April 19, 2014 2:03 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Did you see/hear the V-22 Ospreys flying over the city a bit earlier? We were downtown when we saw them, but a couple notes say they passed over West Seattle too. We and others had been searching for info for a while – and then, the video above turned up. It was tweeted from Snohomish County by Tyler Brunkhorst, who described it as the Presidential helicopter fleet preparing for President Obama‘s scheduled visit to the Oso mudslide zone on Tuesday. This CNN.com story suggests the Ospreys just joined the Presidential fleet last year.

P.S. In what so far as we know is just a coincidence, an Osprey flyby was reported here exactly three years ago, on April 19, 2011 – Anne and Doug dug up the WSB link.

P.P.S. While trying to find info about today’s sightings, we noted that NEXT Saturday (April 26th) is the Mariners’ Salute to Armed Forces Night. In years past, that’s brought flyovers. The pre-game events next Saturday are scheduled for 5:30 pm.

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Duwamish Alive! volunteer cleanup, on the river and off
April 19, 2014 1:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Duwamish Alive! volunteer cleanup, on the river and off
 |   Environment | South Park | West Seattle news

It’s just about wrapup time for the spring edition of Duwamish Alive! – a twice-yearly day of volunteer cleanup/restoration work to help the Duwamish River and its watershed/feeder waterways. One of the busiest sites this morning was on the South Park shoreline, at Duwamish Waterway Park. With the help of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Alki Kayak Tours, volunteers were launching kayaks to head out and pick up shoreline debris. Park habitat and raingarden work was being done at the park, too. (Update: Via Facebook, Soundkeeper says volunteers removed 260 pounds of debris from the river.)

This was one of 11 Duwamish Alive! sites from West Seattle to Georgetown to South Park to Tukwila; the fall edition will be in October. (Any photos from other sites today? We’d love to add more to this story – editor@westseattleblog.com – and thanks to all who volunteered!)

ADDED 6:01 PM: From Rory Denovan:

Roxhill Bog had a dozen hardy volunteers for Duwamish Alive. We filled a dumpster full of non-native invasive plants and picked up almost as much litter.

Plans are in the works to head back out in a month or so for more weeding and mulching. We’re determined to get the Park in shape so people can see how really beautiful and diverse the native bog plants are.

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Just in time! West Seattle’s community-center egg hunts beat the rain
April 19, 2014 1:08 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

The rain held off until JUST after the simultaneous egg hunts at West Seattle-area city-run community centers – above and below, our photos from High Point CC:

Next two are from Hiawatha CC, shared by Jason Grotelueschen:

We also went to South Park CC:

And (added late Saturday night) thanks to Tom from the Southwest Advisory Council for sharing photos from their egg hunt and April Pools Day events:

Alki and Delridge CC’s had egg-hunt events too.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Earth Day Run on Alki
April 19, 2014 11:23 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing his view of the start of this morning’s Earth Day Run on Alki – second year for the event, first time on Alki.

Next big run at the beach is the West Seattle 5K on Sunday, May 18th (four weeks from tomorrow), benefiting the WSHS PTSA.

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West Seattle Thriftway’s 2014 egg hunt: Aisles of smiles
April 19, 2014 9:42 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

9:42 AM: Our first photo in from the first egg hunt of the day – West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), popular as ever – this little egg-seeker just wanted to stop down and enjoy his finds!

ADDED 11:02 AM: Thanks to Mike Katz for sharing this photo:

Eleanore and Mimi meet the Easter Bunny! Many thanks to Thriftway for their 27th annual Easter Egg Hunt! We had such a great time. We’d like to thank all the staff for putting in such a wonderful community event.

ADDED 3:24 PM: More WSB photos, starting with a different “Easter bunny” encounter in the store:

Egg hunters and families just kept streaming in:

Treasure even turned up by the coffee bar …

… and we spotted a basket at a checkstand …

… and a chance to recycle the plastic eggs on the way out!

Thriftway has dozens of its own photos from today on the store’s Facebook page.

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West Seattle Saturday: Egg hunts; Duwamish Alive!; Junction Tax-Free Day; Record Store Day; Earth Day Run; more
April 19, 2014 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Egg hunts; Duwamish Alive!; Junction Tax-Free Day; Record Store Day; Earth Day Run; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Mark Bauschke, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
So much happening today! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights from morning until night, starting with an event that includes a traffic alert:

ALKI TRAFFIC ALERT FOR EARTH DAY RUN: Traffic/parking restrictions will be in effect along Alki Avenue in the 9-11 am vicinity because of the second annual Earth Day Run, first time on Alki. Start time is listed as 9:30 am, with post-race events continuing until noon.

EGG HUNTS TODAY

9 am – West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan; WSB sponsor) egg hunt – get there early, there’s always a line!

10 am – Seattle Parks & Rec community-center egg hunt of your choice:
*********Alki – 5817 SW Stevens – billed as for ages 11 and under
*********Delridge – 4501 Delridge Way SW – for ages 3-11
*********Hiawatha – 2700 California SW – for 3-11
*********High Point – 6920 34th SW – for 3-11
*********South Park – 8319 8th Ave. S. – for ages 1-10

11 am – Eastridge Church community egg hunt on the south side of Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – bring donations for the diaper drive for WestSide Baby

Noon – Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village egg hunt (2600 SW Barton), right after 11 am seasonally themed story-time

WHAT ELSE IS UP

(WSB photo: Record Store Day art greeting on Easy Street marquee, spotted on Friday)
RECORD STORE DAY: From early morning on into the evening, Easy Street Records is the celebration epicenter – see the full lineup here; doors open at 7 am, signings throughout the day include West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants signing and spinning 3-4 pm, and Rose Windows performing live in-store at 7 pm. (NW corner of California/Alaska)

DUWAMISH ALIVE! 10 am-2 pm, hundreds of volunteers are bringing TLC to sites along the Duwamish River and in its watershed. If you haven’t already signed up, pick a site and go join in – see the map here.

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ‘TAX-FREE SHOPPING DAY’: Look for the red balloons to see who’s participating – shops and restaurants that are will pick up your sales-tax cost for whatever you buy today. You can also see more than three dozen participants listed online.

APRIL POOL’S DAY: Free family event to promote water safety, with activities in and out of the water at Southwest Pool, 10:30 am-noon. (2801 SW Thistle)

ANTIQUE TYPEWRITERS: Last weekend we showed you one of the stops for “Ribbon and Rhyme,” in which antique typewriters are provided for YOU to tap out some art – poetry, perhaps.

Today, they’re at Southwest Branch Library, 1:30-4:30 pm. (35th/Henderson)

‘COLLAGE CURE’ ART SHOW: 2-6 pm installation at Highland Park Improvement Club – details here. (12th/Holden)

NATURE HIKE: “Owls and Other Organisms” evening hike with naturalist Stewart Wechsler in Lincoln Park, 6:30 pm – details here, including where to meet & suggested donation.

MUSIC OF OUR TIME: Piano, cello, soprano performing “Music of Our Time” concert at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)’s Olympic Hall, 7:30 pm. (6000 16th SW)

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL REUNION: Widow, 30 years later! Tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)

See the calendar for even more ...

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You can help! ‘Sing for Oso’ karaoke fundraiser on Sunday
April 19, 2014 5:31 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Another chance to help the mudslide recovery up in Oso – a karaoke benefit in West Seattle on Sunday. Lee Bui from the Vietnamese Cultural Center invites you to come sing and donate, 3-7 pm Sunday at the center. He says an American Red Cross representative will be there to accept checks. The center is just north of Home Depot, at 2234 SW Orchard.

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Remembering Ethel Eyrse, 1914-2014, who lived ‘with great wit and curiosity’
April 18, 2014 10:51 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The family of 99-year-old Ethel Eyrse, who spent the final fourth of her life here, shares this remembrance:

Ethel Louise (Boyer) Eyrse passed away on April 9, 2014. She was born in Saidora, IL on Dec. 2, 1914, to Harry and Elsie Boyer. Ethel moved to Pekin, IL in her teens and, after graduating from Pekin High School, worked at the Pekin Finance Company. She married Fred Eyrse on Aug. 2, 1936.

Ethel was an active volunteer at the Pekin Hospital League, holding many chairs including League President, and started the Nearly Nu Shop which over the years has raised thousands of dollars for the hospital. She moved to Seattle in 1997, following the death of Fred. She lived her 99-plus years with great wit and curiosity about life.

Always independent, Ethel was able to stay in her own apartment in West Seattle with a view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains and was as sharp as a tack to the end. A bit of her wit was shared online by her granddaughter, Shanna, through the website Upload Your Grandma.

Ethel is survived by her son, Steven Eyrse of Pekin, daughter Cinda (Eyrse) Christie of Seattle, three grandchildren, Shanna Christie, Severn Eyrse and Margaret Lanphier, and two great-grandchildren, Severn Eyrse Jr. and Hazel Lanphier. She will be greatly missed.

There will be a celebration of Ethel’s life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made in her name to the Pekin Hospital League, 600 South 13th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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West Seattle’s newest Little Free Library: 4502 Glenn Way
April 18, 2014 8:58 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Add another Little Free Library to the list of West Seattle’s LFLs! Joan shared the photo of this one that’s new this week at 4502 Glenn Way SW (map), explaining, “It has great finds of books: fiction, biographies, science, art, history and medical books and 2 children’s books!” The official LFL map has a dozen others in this area, some of which we’ve been honored to feature here.

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Log House Museum close to welcoming ex-Admiral totem pole home
April 18, 2014 5:33 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from April 2012)
Two years after it was bundled onto a flatbed and taken away for some expert TLC with the restoration experts at Artech, the Log House Museum‘s totem pole – which stood for 40 years at the Admiral Way Viewpoint – is finally close to its homecoming. The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has announced an event on May 8th featuring Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals detailing the plan to install it soon in its new home on the east side of the Alki-area museum; the plan’s already gone through city review, including the Landmarks Board, since the museum is an official landmark. See photos of the pole’s history, and a sketch of its future site, on the SWSHS/Log House museum website, here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Two robbers sentenced in Arbor Heights, Fauntleroy, Beacon Hill spree
April 18, 2014 3:46 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of getaway car stopped in Arbor Heights, August 21, 2013)
We’re back at the King County Courthouse, where Superior Court Judge Dean Lum has just sentenced two of the three men arrested for last August’s night of armed street robberies in Arbor Heights (where they were caught thanks in part to alert witnesses), Fauntleroy, and Beacon Hill. (As reported here last month, all three pleaded guilty.)

First, 22-year-old Najib A. Aden, who had not been in jail since , as he had posted bail.

Read More

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Saturday reminder: Duwamish Alive! in West Seattle & beyond
April 18, 2014 2:19 pm
|    Comments Off on Saturday reminder: Duwamish Alive! in West Seattle & beyond
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of October 2012 Duwamish Alive! volunteers at Brandon St. Natural Area)
Several Saturday reminders coming up as the afternoon progresses, since it’s a BUSY day around the area. First – signed up for Duwamish Alive! yet? It’s that springtime day of work parties along and near the Duwamish River and the waterways that feed into it. That goes for West Seattle’s own Longfellow Creek, where the Brandon Street Natural Area work party could use a few more volunteers, we’re told. 10 am-2 pm on Saturday is all you need to commit to … sign up here ASAP!

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