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Jackson County legislators unanimously approved a funding plan on September 28th to distribute $5 million in CARES Act funds to school districts within Jackson County. Grain Valley Schools will receive $167,916.38 of these funds.
The funding allocates money to the public school districts based on enrollment and poverty and allows each district significant flexibility in determining how the funds are used. Examples include but are not limited to, enhanced wireless internet services, improved education technology, mental health services, COVID-19 testing, and nutrition programs. “The members of our Legislature have been very diligent and responsible with every single dollar the County received from the federal government to combat the unforeseen, devastating impacts of the coronavirus,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr said. “Their support of this plan ensures teachers and staff have access to the resources they need to provide a quality education to our children no matter where they live. Jackson County is committed to serving our community during this critical time of need and I’d like to commend the Legislature for their valuable role in getting this important work done.” Grain Valley Schools Superintendent Marc Snow stated the funding will provide relief in a time when state funding for schools is in decline. “We are appreciative of the allocation of CARES Act money to help offset the increased costs associated with conducting business during a pandemic. Our teachers and staff are working harder than ever to support learning at a time when state revenues for schools are down significantly. This funding is a welcome relief,” Snow said. Jackson County continues to provide COVID-19 testing opportunities throughout the county at mobile locations. Events next week include:
Monday, October 5th: Lee’s Summit: Old Fire Station #3, 210 Sw Pryor Rd. Tuesday, October 6th: Metro Christian Fellowship, 2217 High Grove Rd, Grandview Wednesday, October 7th: Blue Springs: Vesper Hall, 400 NW Vesper St Thursday, October 8th: Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy., Raytown Friday, October 9th: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 603 N Jennings Road, Independence Advance registration is requested and may be completed at https://jacohd.org/events/ Walk-ups will be taken on a limited basis. Jackson County continues to provide COVID-19 testing opportunities throughout the county at mobile locations. Events next week include:
Monday, September 28th: Lee’s Summit: Old Fire Station #3, 210 Sw Pryor Rd. Tuesday, September 29th: Metro Christian Fellowship, 2217 High Grove Rd, Grandview Wednesday, September 23rd: .Buckner Masonic Lodge, 611 S. Sibley ST Thursday, October 1st: Blue Springs: Vesper Hall, 400 NW Vesper St Friday, September 25th: Eastern Jackson County Courthouse parking lot, 308 W. Kansas, Independence Advance registration is requested and may be completed at https://jacohd.org/events/ Walk-ups will be taken on a limited basis. Cinephiles who have spent the last several months surviving on TV and streaming services on the small-screen will be thrilled to hear the Grain Valley B&B Theatre is excited to welcome back movie lovers to newly renovated theaters on Friday, August 14th.
Movie goers will see a new full-service bar in the lobby, new carpet, and new marquee signs as they enter the theatre. The theatre now features reserved seating, and patrons will notice a difference inside the theatres as well, with each theatre featuring heated reclining seats. Social distancing and cleaning protocols have been put in place to ensure the safety of employees and customers. The theatre had planned a renovation prior to the closures imposed on movie theatres due to the COVID-19 pandemic.. These shutdowns have temporarily crippled movie theatres, and B&B has been no exception. B&B Theatres, headquartered in Liberty. MO, prides itself on being a small, family-owned business, whose employees are like family as well. “This has not be a pleasant time for us. We’ve been affected financially of course.,” Paul Farnsworth, Director of Public Relations for B&B Theatres said. While the company works through the challenges of maintaining the business and still waiting on COVID-19 related financial assistance, Farnsworth says the support felt from the community has been encouraging. “Specific to this market, we’ve received immensely positive feedback on social media. They’ve been really supportive at this and other locations by way of gift card purchases online. It’s been very heartening and encouraging.” “Operating these community theatres is tremendously important to us. This renovation has been a great opportunity to indicate our re-investment in this location, but also our commitment to these new protocols to make sure people coming back are comfortable and accommodated when they revisit us.” While theatres across the country wait for Hollywood to release new titles, B&B will feature favorite classic movies. Movies on the schedule for opening weekend at the Grain Valley location include Beauty and the Beast, Bohemian Rhapsody, Grown Ups, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Iron Man, Jurassic Park, The Goonies, and Wonder Woman. “The hope of course is that Tenet, a new film from Warner Brothers, slated to release internationally on the 26th and then domestically on September 3rd, holds. We’re leaning into that and if it does and performs really well, the hope beyond that is that some of the studios will begin to backfill some of these other dates in the fall with some of the content that they have ready,” Farnsworth said. “Lots of things remain up in the air, but in the meantime, we’re doing all we can to bring back the ‘magic of the movies’, as we say.” The theatre is also offering private rentals for small groups or families who would like an exclusive showing of a favorite film. Jeremy Weikel, General Manager of the Grain Valley B&B Theatres, Is excited to open the doors on August 14th and see familiar faces. He encourages patrons to “arrive early, take a look around, and see all of the great changes.” B&B Grain Valley Theatres, located at 1131 NE McQuerry Road, opens Friday, August 14th. Details regarding showtimes, tickets, and COVID-19 safety protocols can be found at www.bbtheatres.com. It is difficult to remember what life was like in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, as the virus and its impact has been a focus of our daily lives since March.
In early March, concerns regarding the virus were mainly focused on those who had traveled internationally or to one of the few affected areas in the States. So the coronavirus was not an immediate concern when Craig Hillbrand of Grain Valley began experiencing a cough, congestion, and shortness of breath in early March. Hillbrand visited his primary care physician who suspected pneumonia and put him on a Z-Pak (Azithromycin). When his condition worsened, Hillbrand headed to the emergency department at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Not one to seek medical help unless absolutely necessary, his wife and son knew it was serious when he told them he hoped he would be admitted. “I’ve never had pneumonia, but I’ve had the flu a few times over the years. I just couldn’t go. The fever and the chest pain was like nothing else. It’s hard to explain because I wasn’t thinking too clear at the time,” Hillbrand said. “They both knew for me to mention wanting to go into the hospital, something was really wrong.” Hillbrand was found to have pneumonia, multiple pulmonary emboli (blood clots), and tested positive for COVID-19. “They told us if we hadn't brought him in that Saturday, he likely would not have made it through the weekend,” Craig’s wife Beverly Garrison said. Hillbrand’s condition was tenuous at best many times during his stay. After going into respiratory failure, he was intubated for 29 days. During that time, he had kidney failure requiring dialysis, sepsis, and required an operation to remove dead skin which still requires wound care. Hillbrand lost 50 pounds of muscle and barely recognized himself when he was finally able to see himself in a mirror. “I remember them taking the tube and the feeding tube out. During that entire period, I had no idea what was going on. When I realized what was finally going on and where I was, my first thought was concern for my wife and son who had been exposed to me.” Both Beverly and her son Ryan tested negative for the virus. Garrison and the couple’s three children were not able to visit Hillbrand during his stay, and had to deal with the shock and try to prepare for his recovery and after care in the meantime. “The first two weeks, I was kind of in shock. Our middle son, Ryan, kept me focused and kept me going. And when the doctor said to get our son from North Carolina home, it was a shock. We called and got him here, and got to wave (to Hillbrand) through the window. From there, you just have to stay informed and go on with things,” Garrison said. “If they (St. Mary’s) had to do something out of the ordinary, they would call and kept me informed. They are just incredible there,” Garrison said. After moving into the rehab unit, Craig worked hard with the help of therapists to regain his strength. Used to his independence, it has been an adjustment to have to depend on others for help. “They had alarms on beds, so if you get out, the alarm goes off. Well, I had a problem with that,” Hillbrand joked and his wife laughed in appreciation. “I got in trouble a few times. I’ve been independent forever, and I hated to rely on someone else.” Hillbrand gives endless praise to the physicians, nurses, therapists and staff who kept him going and helped him fight. “Just the overall professionalism and the concern they showed me was incredible.” “I told my therapists and doctors, ‘If I’m gonna make it, I wanna walk out of here.’ They made it happen.” Hillbrand walked out of St. Mary’s on May 22nd with the aid of a walker and the applause of St. Mary’s staff and the theme to the movie Rocky in the background. In a social media post, St. Mary’s Medical Center called Hillbrand a “walking miracle”. Hillbrand continues to regain strength and the ability to be independent, but the after effects of the virus make recovery slower than he would like. “It’s hard to take. I’ve been active and independent forever. I worked 40 years, was in the Navy. I thought maybe I’d be back to work in August. But I’m having to realize that my body’s not there yet. You have to mentally get square with what you still have to go through to get back.” “There’s also survivor guilt with this as well that’s harder than anything. You see the stories of 30 year-olds getting the virus, going into the hospital for a week and dying. It is hard to take.” “He’s still having emotional ups and downs and anxiety when going out, and it’s understandable,” Garrison said. “The first time we ate at a restaurant, he had anxiety about going in. Nobody had masks on, and you could just tell by the look on his face, ‘OK, we need to leave now’,” “I don’t think people are taking it seriously enough. People are saying, ‘I don’t want to be told I have to wear a mask. Well, OK. But that’s a pretty simple thing compared to what you might have to deal with. The statistics are showing that younger people are increasingly being diagnosed with it. You hear someone say, ‘I’m young, I’ll get through it.’ Well, you’d better have a strong body and good insurance, and even then, it can still claim you,” Hillbrand said. “People need to take this seriously. It affects not just you, but everyone around you,” Garrison said. “A good support system, both family and medical staff, has been essential, and we were lucky to have good health coverage. I can see where it can bankrupt a family. We’ve seen the bills.” “But I feel really lucky. I’m capable of doing everything at home now, and I’m getting stronger,” Hillbrand said. “And we’re all happy to have him home,” Garrison said. The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to enter into an agreement with Jackson County to distribute $865,728 in coronavirus relief funds for the 2020 budget year during its July 13th meeting.
Funding is intended to provide relief from costs associated with technology and software upgrades, facility safety measures, personnel costs related to the virus, and the administration of the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Due to the amount of funding, a single audit will be required. The breakdown of expenses allocated for this funding is as follows: Administration $14,000.00 Citizen Relief $21,500.00 Facility Upgrades $5,112.42 Substantial Personnel Costs $690,014.00 Supplies (Protective Equipment/Cleaning) $3,431.64 Technology $126,345.94 Unanticipated COVID Expenses $4,596.00 In other business, Alderman Shea Bass was appointed Mayor Pro Tem, and the Board approved a liquor license for B&B Theatres and approved the final plat of Rosewood Hills 10th plat. The final plat contains 42 lots and Tract F. The total land area is approximately 22 acres with 10.5 acres designated for common area for water detention purposes and setback from creek. The final plat for the 10th phase substantially conforms to the approved preliminary plat. The final plat conforms to city standards and the engineering civil plans have been approved by the City Engineer. The Board also approved a payment to the Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (CJCEMA) for emergency management services. The CJCEMA is a cooperative effort between the cities of Grain Valley, Blue Springs and Lake Tapawingo in conjunction with the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. The budgeted cost of this payment is $14,333.00. City staff requested Board input regarding policies for food truck permit fees, resulting in an extended discussion by Mayor Johnston and other members regarding the impact and benefits of allowing food trucks in the community. “Our brick and mortar businesses have been decimated. And we’re hurting their investment when we’re bringing in competition and not putting them on a level playing field,” Johnston said. Aldermen Stratton and Aldermen Knox expressed their disagreement that food trucks are negatively impacting brick and mortar restaurants. “If you have a truck up in Rosewood Hills for instance, they’re not hurting any brick and mortar businesses,” Knox said. “The Mexican restaurant (El Tequilazo) has had more business than it’s ever had,” Stratton said, referring to the recent Food Truck Friday events downtown. Stratton, who owns a beauty salon in Grain Valley, suggested there was no similar consideration given to other types of businesses. “The other way I look at it, is that I cannot come to the Board asking that there be no other salons brought into town. There’s no limit put on any other business in town, so I don’t know that it is fair to target them because they have a different type of business, just because it is brick and mortar,” “I just believe we ought to protect our City businesses. When they’re (residents) buying from a food truck, they are not spending their money to support our local businesses,” Johnston said. City Administrator Ken Murphy redirected the discussion, noting there seemed to be consensus to develop a fee structure for both one time and annual food truck permit fees. City staff will draft options for the Board to review and discuss. The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held at 7:00pm on July 27th at Grain Valley City Hall. Effective July 1st, Jackson County has instituted a mask requirement as a part of its Phase 2 Recovery Plan.
According to the County, the order is in response to reports of increasing case counts and a potential overwhelming of the health care system. So far, more than 2,600 people have been infected with the virus and 62 people have died in Jackson County. Local public health directors and hospital officials say wearing a face mask is the most effective and least costly strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19. “While some continue to deny the overwhelming judgment of public health officials, none of us are safe from this deadly disease,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “However, we should find comfort in the fact that we have the power to dramatically reduce the impact this virus has on our community by simply wearing a mask. It protects you and more importantly, makes it less likely you will accidently harm someone else. Wearing a mask should not be politicized. Wearing a mask is about saving a life. Be a hero, wear a mask.” Under the new order, masks covering the mouth and nose must be worn in: A public indoor space, including a workplace, business, school, place of worship, or public facility such as a community center or library; A public outdoor space, including parks, playgrounds, farmers markets, bus stops and restaurant/bar patio seating, and when using public transportation, taxis or ride-sharing services. The following individuals are exempt from the mask requirement: Those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Children younger than five years old; and Children who are younger than two years old should never wear face coverings due to the risk of suffocation. Children who are two, three, or four years old, with the assistance and close supervision of an adult, are strongly recommended to wear a face covering at all times in settings, like grocery stores or pharmacies, where it is likely that a distance of at least six feet cannot be maintained from non-household members and vulnerable people must go. Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes, but is not limited to, persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. "The science is clear that when we wear masks, we limit the spread of droplets being passed on to others when we talk, cough or sneeze,” Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH said. “While some of us are wearing masks in public, we must increase usage to best control the virus. Mask wearing is one of the simplest and least invasive tools we have to protect our families, friends, and neighbors in Jackson County.” The mask requirement is part of a modified Phase 2 of the Jackson County Recovery Plan, which includes changes to allow in-person instruction at schools, playgrounds to reopen and increased outdoor capacity limits to 100 people. Residents and businesses with questions should contact the health department by visiting www.jacohd.org/coronavirus, calling (816) 404-9883 or emailing COVID19@tmcmed.org. A bit of normalcy has resumed at City Hall, the Community Center, and city parks with the reopening of some facilities and programs. The Grain Valley Aquatic Center opened Saturday, June 13th, and City Hall reopened June 15th. The Community Center resumed normal hours of operation on June 8th.
“We still have some programs/classes that we just are not able to offer due to social distancing restrictions but the Fitness Center and Gymnasium are open again and we are taking room rentals,” Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies said. “The first weekend of the pool went really well. We never reached capacity, but we had a nice steady flow of patrons both Saturday and Sunday and are really appreciative of everyone's patience with the COVID-19 restrictions that we had to implement.” While playgrounds remain closed, all other park amenities are currently open to the public with some restrictions per Phase 2 of Jackson County's Recovery Plan. Davies is hopeful playgrounds can reopen in Phase 3 of the County’s plan. Baseball/softball field rentals have been very popular this month, according to Davies. “We can allow practices on our fields in Phase 2, just no tournaments. So several of these youth teams have been practicing in preparation for tournaments scheduled in surrounding counties where tournaments are allowed.” One popular program not returning in the near future are the monthly senior luncheons. The July senior luncheon has been canceled, and future luncheons have been postponed until further notice. As residents begin to slowly resume daily activities with the gradual lifting of restrictions on businesses and gathering places, many are looking forward to the opportunity to resume attending church in person. The stay-at-home order forced many congregations to further embrace online platforms, reaching out to parishioners through Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, and other services. But both local pastors and church members are growing weary of meeting virtually.
Following often heated discussions, Jackson County amended the Phase One executive order on May 13th to allow gyms, fitness centers, and places of worship to open with occupancy limits. Places of worship are also now allowed to open with the same occupancy limits as nonessential businesses. Jackson County Health Department continues to encourage the use of drive-in and online services whenever possible, especially for high risk populations. Faith United Methodist Church in Grain Valley plans to continue to online-only worship through the end of May. Pastor Mike Cassidy explained his congregation is following guidelines from both the County and the Missouri UMC. “This has been a difficult decision because we do miss meeting together and have some members of our community who are unable to access the internet. Also, May 31st is Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church. It will be hard not to be together on that day, but we trust that we are making the best decision for the health and safety of our congregation and our neighbors,” Cassidy said. “When we do return to worship, we are looking at coming back in phases. We've already set the chairs in our sanctuary 6 feet apart to get a feel for what it might be like. We've got plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant ready to go. Most likely, our first phase will only include worship in smaller numbers without Sunday school or nursery care.” “One of the biggest long term changes for us will be the continuation of online worship. This has been something we've been working toward at Faith and the shutdown really sped that process up for us. We've been reaching new people and even bringing back some families who had drifted away. We are committed to continuing this online community even after we return to life in the sanctuary. It is well known that churches see an increase in attendance and giving when they add online worship opportunities, and this has certainly proved true for Faith,” Cassidy said. Crossroads Church in Grain Valley resumed in-person services last Sunday and will continue again this Sunday, abiding by the social distancing and sanitization protocols as well as limiting building capacity. The church will only hold one service, with no nursery, preschool, or children’s ministry programming. Attendees are asked to RSVP for church service so the church may maximize seating and accommodate guests. RSVPs may be made at the following link: https://crossroadsgv.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/425319 Live streaming of services will continue on Facebook and YouTube. First Baptist Church Grain Valley will meet online this Sunday, but resume in-person services on May, 31st. The church has been utilitizing Facebook Live and their website, www.grainvalleyfirst.com to share online services, but Pastor Wayne Geiger said he and his congregation are looking forward to the day when they can worship together in person. “The notes and messages that we are getting from our folks are that people have appreciated our approach and are enjoying the online broadcasts but are really looking forward to meeting again in person when the storm is over,” Geiger said. Valley Community Church meets at Sni-A-Bar Elementary and have finalized plans with Grain Valley Schools to resume services this Sunday with 25% capacity. We will ask families not to arrive early, but to enter just before service time (10:00am) and go directly to the auditorium as a family. Families will sit together at a distance from other families for a shortened, family style worship service,” Valley Community Church Pastor Jason Williams said. “We will not have any kids ministries in operation for the foreseeable future. Several other suggestions for safety will be implemented as well.” “The last several weeks have been challenging and difficult for us, but our people have done a tremendous job of following the advice of our leaders. Our most vulnerable will be staying home but many will be in attendance for much needed fellowship together,” William said. Church attendance is not the only factor affected by the shut-down. Youth, community programs, and ministry work has been impacted during this time, but not always negatively. “Throughout the shutdown, a lot of our programming has been either suspended or seriously pulled back. Our children's and youth ministry have been hosting gatherings through Zoom, but we are definitely feeling Zoom fatigue at this point and it is not at all the same as sharing the same physical space. Some of our small groups are also taking advantage of Zoom. Our taekwondo, cardio class, and music groups have had to take a hiatus and we are still unsure when they will be able to resume. A bright spot has been that we've been able to continue our relationship with the school system to pack and deliver backpack snacks to elementary students in Grain Valley. This is a joint effort between the local churches, Bright Futures, and Grain Valley Assistance Council. We've seen an increase in support from the community for this project since the outbreak. One family in the church stepped up to pack 100 bags each week while wearing masks and gloves to help minimize contact and possible spread of disease,” Cassidy said. “During the stay-at-home orders, most of our Groups, KidzMin classes for Elementary and Preschool, our Middle/High School Ministry and our Sunday Services have all offered Zoom or Livestream venues to continue to participate. We really enjoyed some wonderful things about this season of ‘The Great Pause’ - getting to do a lot of ministry in some really new ways was a challenge that stretched many of us and grew our church family,” Jones said. “During this time, our deacons, program leaders, and small groups leaders have continued to stay in touch with members. We have also provided online, downloadable content for families with children and youth and have done targeted Facebook Live and Zoom connections with them. We also have Zoom courses that have been happening during the week for men and women,” Geiger said. The ability of churches to continue to fund operations and ministries was certainly a concern, but the shutdown has created some positive results. “Our giving was down slightly initially, but as our people realized how long it was going to last, began giving online and we saw very little change. I'm thankful that our people are so generous! It allows us to continue to be a blessing as a church to our community and to many different ministries around the world,” Williams said. “Not having people at the church has been odd and saddening, and all of us are craving the opportunity to worship and fellowship together. However, God has continued to bless us as a church. We have not cut back on any of our missions giving and this time of not being able to get together has not affected our overall budget,” Geiger said. “We certainly lived out, through this period, that the church is not a building. Since our very beginning, we've always taught the value that we don't go to church...we are the church,” Jones said. “Financially, our offerings have never been better. Not only have we continued to meet budget consistently, but our offerings have also increased over the first quarter. Not only that, but we've raised several thousand dollars in special offerings for people groups suffering in our city and around our world.” “All in all - it's not the same, but we believe that God is in constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation, for His glory and the good of His people. This pandemic didn't catch Him by surprise or off His game. He's teaching us and strengthening us through these trials for the work that He's prepared for us to do,” Jones said. Residents hoping to kick off the summer season this Memorial Day weekend with a dip in the pool will have to wait a few weeks longer. Grain Valley Parks and Recreation announced the opening of the pool will be delayed until June, contingent on the restrictions provided in Phase 2 of Jackson County’s Recovery Plan for outdoor aquatic facilities. Aquatic programs, including swim lessons, are contingent upon Phase 2 restrictions. The Fitness Center inside the Grain Valley Community Center reopened on Monday, May 18th. The gymnasium and all other common meeting space have remained closed, with just the Fitness Center open to the public. “We are thrilled to once again see members of our community coming in to exercise. Even though we are not ‘completely’ open yet, the Fitness Center is a step in the right direction to once again provide opportunities for health and wellness to our residents,” Shannon Davies, Grain Valley Parks and Recreation Director said. The Center will be open 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday through at least May 25th, and will not be open on Memorial Day. “We hope to reopen the building in its entirety soon and resume our normal hours of operation, 7 days a week. This will be contingent on Phase 2 of Jackson County’s Recovery Plan, which we have been told will be issued between now and May 25th,” Davies said. The Center is open to current members and those wanting to purchase a membership or day pass. Davies explained the Community Center has implemented several safety measures in response to COVID-19, including: Limiting the # of patrons in the Fitness Center at one time. Patrons are encouraged to call the Community Center (816-847-6203) before arriving to see if there will be a wait. Certain pieces of cardio equipment and weight machines are “out-of-service” to ensure that the 6-feet of distance between individuals is adhered to. Patrons must sign-in when they arrive, and sign-out when they leave. This includes name and contact information. This allows for tracing by the Jackson County Health Department should the need arise. Patrons are not allowed to use the Fitness Center if they are showing any signs of illness. Patrons are required to wash their hands before entering the Fitness Center and required to wash their hands before leaving the facility. Patrons are required to wipe down any fitness equipment immediately after they are done using it with anti-bacterial/alcohol wipes provided at the center. Center staff is required to wear facemasks when interacting with patrons who come to exercise. Staff are to not come to work if they are exhibiting any signs of illness. Facemasks for patrons are recommended when visiting, but it is not required. Center staff sanitizes commonly used areas each day before opening and more frequently depending on volume. Grain Valley’s aquatic facility will not reopen on Memorial Day weekend due to Jackson County’s stay-at-home order. The opening of the pool will be delayed until June, contingent on the restrictions provided in Phase 2 of Jackson County’s Recovery Plan for outdoor aquatic facilities. Aquatic programs, including swim lessons, are contingent upon Phase 2 restrictions. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley |
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