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Save it or raze it? Last comment chance for Charlestown Court
March 31, 2008 9:45 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

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(1st photo from King County Assessor; 2nd by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)

We have been reporting for almost a full year now on the fate of Charlestown Court, the 81-year-old brick fourplex across the street from the Charlestown Cafe. As we first told you last October, it is under review for possible city landmark status (or possible teardown); on February 20th, we covered the city Landmarks Preservation Board hearing downtown at which board members agreed to consider its exterior architecture for possible landmark designation. Now, it’s decision time — this Wednesday (agenda), the Landmarks Board is scheduled to listen to public comments, and vote. (The process is explained here.) If you want to tell the board what you think, e-mail comments to board coordinator Beth Chave before Wednesday at beth.chave@seattle.gov; you also can speak at the public hearing this Wednesday, 3:30 pm on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown. This process was set in motion by a proposal to tear down Charlestown Court and replace it with a 4-story mixed-use building (official city project page here), a project that’s still in the pipeline pending the outcome of the landmark review.

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Reminder: It’s spring-break week for many local students
March 31, 2008 6:34 am
|    Comments Off on Reminder: It’s spring-break week for many local students
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

You won’t see many “school zone” lights this morning — it’s Spring Break for all Seattle Public Schools and some private schools. Speaking of SPS, families are starting to get fall assignment letters; for those seeking info about any WS school, an upgrade is in progress for our West Seattle Schools page – each public elementary listing now has a link to archived WSB coverage of that school. (We’ll add the same feature for the other schools later today.)

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The next West Seattle caucus: Less than 1 week away
March 30, 2008 9:44 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

obamabarack.jpgclintoncolormug.jpgWith the Democratic presidential-nomination race not quite over yet, there’s still some potential for drama next Saturday, when more than 1,000 delegates chosen at 34th Legislative District precinct caucuses February 9 (WSB coverage with reader reports/photos here) will gather at 10 am at West Seattle High School for the districtwide Democratic caucus. If you’re one of those delegates, your phone’s likely been ringing off the hook with campaign calls making sure you’ll be there. The 34th District Democrats have tons of info on a special section of their website, as always, including the fact that those 1,000-plus delegates will elect 51 people (and 26 alternates) to move on to the King County Democratic Convention, which is also at WSHS, 2 pm April 13. As for the Republicans — no suspense there any more, but half their delegates are still coming from the caucus process; the 34th District meeting was yesterday. The next big GOP meeting is the King County Republican Convention in Auburn on April 12.

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Mariners’ pizza changeup started with West Seattleite’s pitch
March 30, 2008 7:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS & Sports

As the Mariners play their home opener at Safeco Field tomorrow afternoon, fans will notice something new in the food zones: gjslogo.jpgGarlic Jim’s (WSB sponsor) is now The Official Pizza of the Seattle Mariners. You might have heard this already, since the official word trickled out a couple weeks ago, but you probably haven’t heard the backstory, which involves West Seattle Garlic Jim’s owner Ryan Reese (celebrating his store’s 1st anniversary, by the way, congrats!): Ryan tells WSB he and a friend went to a game about this time last year and noticed that while the food vendors were generally local (Ivar’s, Kidd Valley, etc.), the pizza came from Papa John’s, which is based in Kentucky. Since Garlic Jim’s is headquartered in Western Washington, Ryan thought it would be a great fit at Safeco. He talked to corporate HQ in Everett; Ryan says they considered it a long shot but thought it worth making a pitch. So he checked with the M’s and discovered the pizza contract was in fact up for bid, and that GJ’s could get in on the process. They set up a meeting at The Safe; Ryan fixed pizzas at his restaurant in The Junction and took them over before he and others including Garlic Jim’s CEO Dwayne Northrop met M’s brass. Like runners moving around the bases, things advanced from there, and starting tomorrow, you’ll find Garlic Jim’s Pizza at The Safe. Ryan says the 200 level will offer pizza by the slice, and it’ll be mini-pizzas at the 100 and 300 levels. By the way, this isn’t the only Garlic Jim’s baseball involvement — after we published a West Seattle Little League pitch for team sponsors a few days ago, Ryan signed up to sponsor a WSLL team. (Don’t miss WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham‘s great pix from yesterday’s WSLL Jamboree; see them here.)

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Closed elementary school: District’s keeping it, for now
March 30, 2008 2:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though Seattle Public Schools leadership has decided to sell off a handful of former schools, including the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (whose tenants are working to buy it; here’s WSB in-depth coverage of last Wednesday’s meeting), SPS confirms it’s keeping mothballed Fairmount Park Elementary (map) as “inventory.” (Photo at left was taken as crews moved items out after it closed at the end of last school year.) Other ex-schools in West Seattle that are NOT on the market include Louisa Boren Junior High, which will become the new temporary home of Chief Sealth High School starting this fall, and E.C. Hughes, which is the current (temporary) home of South Lake alternative high school. (Our list of all currently operating public and private schools in West Seattle is here.)

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West Seattle Little League Jamboree: A home run
March 29, 2008 11:42 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Wintry chill couldn’t keep West Seattle Little League players and families off Bar-S Playfield today for the annual season-starting Jamboree. WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham got tons of great shots:

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At center right in the group of photos above, that’s the “Voice of the Mariners,” West Seattle resident Tom Hutyler, on hand to announce players and teams. In the group of photos below, at upper right you see former Mariners and Oakland A’s outfielder Dave Henderson pitch in the first ball, along with one lucky Little League player. Matt writes: “Players and coaches, from T-ball to Majors, ran onto the chilled field as fans and parents hailed their grit”:

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Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.

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Update: Newest details on community fundraiser for arson victim
March 29, 2008 10:28 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

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(left to right, as they’re known in the WSB Forums, JanS, NewResident [Molly], Beachdrivegirl [Megan])
Those are some of the WSB Forum Community members who gathered this morning at Uptown Espresso in The Junction for their second meeting to plan the April 19 fundraiser for Puget Sound Key and Lock, which lost everything in the still-unsolved arson attack that gutted the business eight days ago. The event will be at Admiral Pub, whose owner Eric joined the group this morning:

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There’s still lots you can do to help. The group’s meeting again at Admiral Pub next Saturday at noon. In the meantime, much of the brainstorming is happening on a mailing list the group has set up – they invite you to join by following the instructions on this page. Meantime, mark your calendar for 6 pm April 19 at Admiral Pub (latest details and forum discussion here)! And you can donate any time to the Puget Sound Key and Lock account, through any Wells Fargo branch.

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(Also from this morning’s meeting: To the right of Beachdrivegirl [Megan] are Alkiguy [Steve L], Kathy, Steve Sindiong from the Morgan Community Association, and JoB.)

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Earth Hour: West Seattle didn’t exactly go dark
March 29, 2008 9:22 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Just back from surveying the streets. Put it this way – if you were looking down from a plane or satellite, you wouldn’t have been able to tell Earth Hour from any other hour. Sure, the Space Needle was dark (clip above shows a few seconds of that, shot from Don Armeni) and the Qwest Field roof ribs too, but not much else. The porch light was even on at Hizzoner’s house in North Admiral. Here at WSB HQ, we turned off everything but the computers.

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Earth Hour 8-9 tonight: What you might see from West Seattle
March 29, 2008 4:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Reminder if you missed earlier mentions (or haven’t seen Google‘s tribute) — Earth Hour is tonight, 8-9 pm, with many city-owned lights going dark by order of Mayor Nickels. If you look across the bay during Earth Hour, you’ll reportedly see such iconic illuminated structures as the Space Needle and Qwest Field participating too. Here’s worldwide backstory.

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Another exotic-cat sighting in West Seattle
March 29, 2008 3:51 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Shades of serval-mania! Steve in North Admiral e-mailed to say:

(Last night) we saw what looked like a very exotic cat moving rapidly through the backyards and greenbelt slope between Palm Ave SW and Ferry Ave SW in the 1700 block area. It was not so big–probably 10 – 15 pounds, but it had absolutely “african savannah cat” markings much like the larger serval cat that was seen and eventually captured a few months ago near PCC. Beautiful bold spotting on its body and black rings on its tail. I’ve never seen a cat move like this fellow–he/she was up on house roofs, back down to ground and darting around, etc. Never got close enough to get a picture.

We haven’t called animal control but probably will if we see it around again. It seemed highly stressed.

Here’s a map of the area. Here’s the last followup we had on the serval situation Steve mentioned. SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: The situation is resolved (as per comments below) — the cat, a Savannah, found a way to get into and out of its house while its owners were away, but a friend just verified it’s back inside now – and sent this photo (so you’ll know, if you ever see it):

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Race day: Sailboats on the Sound
March 29, 2008 12:54 pm
|    Comments Off on Race day: Sailboats on the Sound
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

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Just a few of the sailboats we saw off Alki earlier this morning, as they headed around Alki Point and southward — it’s the Corinthian Yacht Club‘s Pully Point Race (more info here including the list of participating vessels). And thanks to Hopey for sending a different view as the race headed past the Fauntleroy ferry dock:

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ADDED 2:20 PM: Hopey caught the racers heading back northbound past Fauntleroy:

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Basic Green Box move update: New location announced
March 28, 2008 2:42 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

When we first told you 2 months ago about Basic Green Box moving out of its California SW storefront (right next to this project), Charlotte at BGB didn’t know yet where they would land. Now she’s just sent WSB the official announcement – they’re leaving WS:

After 3 years in our lovely West Seattle community, we are moving to a more accessible location with more parking (you talked, we listened!).

We are so thrilled to join forces with our friends at Year of the Monkey at 2915 1st Ave S (SODO) integrating our accessories with their impressive selection of antique and reproduction furniture.

Last days: We are only open Friday-Sunday for two more weekends (March 28, 29, 30) and April 4, 5, 6 (12 pm-5 pm each day). Hurry in for up to 50% off everything (we won’t move it all!) Our accessories will still be available at www.basicgreenbox.com and we hope to see you in our new location in May. Thank you for your continued support!

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Afternoon snow updatelet
March 28, 2008 12:00 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(keep scrolling down for updates and pix added to this post)
Big fluffy flakes now. Steady but still not cold enough out there to stick, even on cars. (37) 12:33 PM UPDATE: Kevin writes from Arbor Heights, 375-foot elevation, the snow’s “struggling to stick.” We’re around the same elevation here in Upper Fauntleroy and it’s finally starting to stick … walking out the door for a pic. Send yours if you get one. 12:44 PM UPDATE: OK, here’s our first one.

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ADDED 12:54 PM: Thanks to JoB for this pic:

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1:03 PM: Definitely sticking on the WSBmobile. May be enough for some snowball fights when school gets out this afternoon. (Spring break – ha! – is finishing for some of the private-school kids; Seattle Public Schools and some other private schools are out next week.)

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1:10 PM: Some kids are out having fun already. Thanks to Karen for sending this next photo from Westwood. (P.S. We’ll let you know of any traffic troubles reported on the WS-bound commute this afternoon, of course; check cams any time here).

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1:18 PM: Thanks to Sage K for these next 2 pics, from Delridge and Juneau, where it’s starting to stick. If you’re wondering about the forecast, seems this may not settle down till tomorrow.

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1:33 PM: Thanks to “k” for sending this from Morgan Junction:

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1:44 PM: From 51st/Hudson (map) comes this classic scene of spring vs. snow, thanks to Eileen:

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2:04 PM: Snow’s lightened up in a big way, at least up here. Meantime, JenV sends this photo (thank you!) of frosty flowers, taken outside Buddha Ruksa (did you see the West Seattle 101 on WSB feature yet?) at lunch:

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2:08 PM: Just in from Belvidere (or is it Belvedere? even the city has it both ways):

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2:13 PM: Thanks to Trick in Arbor Heights for a new twist on the term “snow globe”:

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2:18 PM: Snow’s stopped and the big melt has begun here – we can hear it through the rain gutters, and there’s serious drip action from the shrubbery. Some other West Seattle news has been stacking up in queue so we’ll get that going here shortly.

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Harbor Ave block wall: Not what you may have thought
March 28, 2008 10:33 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

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If you’ve driven by that new block wall along Harbor Avenue east of Salty’s and suspected it had something to do with the restaurant – it doesn’t. After a couple of reader e-mails asking about it, we doublechecked with Salty’s, which said no, it’s an unrelated industrial project. That sent us looking into the property records, which are a little convoluted for this parcel (#7666705250, owned by Anmarco), with multiple addresses, but finally we traced it to 2130 Harbor, which carries notes of a city DPD investigation: According to this page on the DPD website, the work was proceeding without permits, and the city posted a “stop-work order” — here’s the exact language:

Constructing a 400’+ long approx. 8′ tall retaining wall and grading in a designated shoreline environment requires permits. STOP WORK ORDER posted 3/5/08 by building inspector.

The DPD website shows two case numbers open for this investigation, here and here. Anmarco’s land in the area has quite a bit of history; this article goes back 11 years.

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West Seattle Chamber of Commerce announces winners
March 28, 2008 10:13 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Just in from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – the official announcement of its Business of the Year and Community Service award winners: Business of the Year goes to Tom Smith for Tom’s Automotive; Community Service goes to Warren Lawless. Both have worked in the West Seattle community for decades; according to the Chamber announcement, Tom’s has been in business for more than 37 years and — quoting the announcement regarding Warren Lawless — “Since 1938 he has been a constant force and a very active participant in numerous West Seattle organizations.” You can be on hand to honor them both when the WS C of C presents the awards during a breakfast event at Salty’s on Alki, 7:30 am April 9. The reservation deadline is next Thursday; go to the West Seattle Chamber website for more on that.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Might be a Flaky Friday
March 27, 2008 8:27 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

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JoB sent that pastoral photo (thank you!) as snow flurries flitted through parts of West Seattle this afternoon (as discussed in this WSB Forum thread), hours after their cameo last night. More may be on the way. The forecast has the entire metro area under a “Snow Advisory” for 3 am-noon. If you want the technical-jargon version, here’s the “forecast discussion.” This wouldn’t be anywhere near the latest Seattle snowfall, though, according to this “Ask Steve (Pool)” page — which says April 17, 1972, holds that record. (Must have been weird weather times; that same month, a major tornado hit Vancouver, WA.)

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Congratulations to five West Seattle middle-schoolers
March 27, 2008 6:52 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

This city news release today announced middle-school students from around the city chosen for the Mayor’s Scholar Awards; they had to write essays about how they contribute to their communities, and about what they would do with the $500 prize — here are the winners from West Seattle schools:

Mia Kaiser-Nielsen, Pathfinder K-8, 6th grade
Princess-Nyosha McWilliams, Pathfinder K-8, 8th grade
Adriana Tabile, Madison Middle School, 6th grade
Miranda Taylor, Denny Middle School, 8th grade
Amleset Tesfamariam, Madison Middle School, 8th grade

They and the other winners from around the city will be honored with a reception May 29. Meantime, reminder – if you’re ever looking for a comprehensive list of West Seattle schools, public and private, we have one with weblinks, addresses, and maplinks, on this page; we also have a section of the WSB Forums set aside for school-related discussion.

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Place & date set for fundraiser to help locksmith arson victim
March 27, 2008 5:44 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

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As we first showed you yesterday, that’s the banner inspired by the efforts of WSB Forum members who quickly and intensively launched a campaign to help Puget Sound Key and Lock rebuild from last Friday’s arson – and tonight, less than a week after the still-unsolved fire, following hours of collaboration and brainstorming plus lots of community help, they’ve set the date and place for a fundraising event: Saturday, April 19, Admiral Pub. Mark your calendar; more details to come. They’re also still soliciting auction items; please check out this forum thread if you can help with that. (Also, as the banner says, you can donate to the Puget Sound Key and Lock account at any Wells Fargo branch.)

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Play ball! West Seattle Little League’s 50th anniversary tipoff
March 27, 2008 4:57 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

baseballclipart.jpgWe brought you news about sign-up season for West Seattle Little League and other area sports leagues some weeks back. Now – it’s game time! WSLL is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having started in 1958. And it’s got two major events in the next few days – here’s the official announcement:

TONIGHT: West Seattle Little League will hold our annual Parent Meeting this evening at 7pm at West Seattle High School Commons. The meeting will cover information and events for the upcoming season, including updates on plans for the $100,000 grant received this summer from Boeing and the Mariners. All families that are currently registered are encouraged to attend. Uniforms will be distributed to players. This is a great opportunity to meet your teammates and we will also hold a raffle for fun prizes!

SATURDAY: Please join West Seattle Little League’s season kickoff at our annual Jamboree! The event is held at Bar-S Field ( 6464 SW Admiral Way). Players are to arrive at 10 am. At 10:30 am, teams will be introduced with a ceremony following at 11 am. Exhibition games will begin at 11:30 am. To see the full schedule of games, tee ball through majors, go to www.westseattlelittleleague.com/jamboree.html. This event is open to the public. Our Snack Shack will offer full service throughout the day.

Sponsors are still needed for the 2008 Season. If you are interested in sponsoring a team, please contact us through our new and improved website: westseattlelittleleague.com.

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2 Delridge notes: Pizza update; road repairs
March 27, 2008 4:39 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

PIZZA UPDATE: Further confirmation of the news we broke here two weeks ago — Olympia Pizza and Pasta is coming to the short-lived Pacino’s Coffee location at 5605 Delridge (map) — we drove by minutes ago and saw new yellow banners draped outside saying OLYMPIA PIZZA AND PASTA COMING SOON (didn’t have a camera along).

ROAD REPAIRS: The city Transportation Department says its crews are working on the shoulder of Delridge, 8100-8600 blocks, through Saturday afternoon, doing “utility repair work.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Gatewood car break-ins
March 27, 2008 12:31 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news


View Larger Map

Thanks to Matt for sending this alert circulated on a Gatewood list:

“We received two emails from folks around Heights Place SW & 41st Ave SW (2 blocks east of California; area shown on map at left) and both had cars broken into last night. One just rummaged through glove box but the other had a checkbook stolen. One also reported their neighbor had his SUV stolen last week.”

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Get that sinking feeling when you drive on The Viaduct?
March 27, 2008 11:33 am
|    Comments Off on Get that sinking feeling when you drive on The Viaduct?
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

The results of last weekend’s inspection are out a day early. Here’s the full text of the news release from the state Department of Transportation – which says The Viaduct’s still sinking, good thing they’re shoring up columns (as featured in WSB video last month):Read More

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Guess what! We’re downtown!
March 27, 2008 11:29 am
|    Comments Off on Guess what! We’re downtown!
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Thanks to Sue for sending the link to the Seattle Condo Tour, with a “Downtown Seattle Tour” coming up April 5-6, and featuring … Sylvan Ridge Townhomes (High Point) and West Water (Morgan Junction) … and even Burien Town Square. Participants will shuttle from Fisher Plaza downtown.

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