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Lakefront expansion. Lakefront Living Realty hires Lake Quinsigamond and Shrewsbury resident Fern Nissim.

Fern Nissim
Fern Nissim of Lakefront Living Realty, LLC.

MANSFIELD and SHREWSBURY, MA…

Lakefront Living Realty, LLC, a Mansfield, MA-based Real Estate Brokerage specializing solely on the purchase and sale of lakefront property, recently hired Shrewsbury resident Fern Nissim to assist lakefront buyers and sellers in Central Massachusetts.

“Purchasing and selling a lakefront home is different than any other real estate,” said Scott Freerksen, broker and owner of Lakefront Living Realty, LLC. “Fern’s experience as a Realtor® and marketing professional, combined with her knowledge of lakes in Central Massachusetts, will make her an outstanding addition to the Lakefront Living team.”

In addition to her experience in both residential and commercial real estate, Nissim has also owned and operated her own marketing company. Besides her professional expertise, she also brings a lifelong love of lakefront living to her new job. Over the past 25 years Nissim has owned, redesigned and built many lakefront homes. She currently lives on Lake Quinsigamond with her husband Robert, a naturalist and environmental engineer.

“This may sound kind of cliché, but with this new opportunity, I get to live two dreams. One is living on a lake the other is helping other people realize that same dream,” said Nissim.

Lakefront Living Realty specializes solely on the purchase and sale of pond and lakefront property in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. In addition to their lakefront expertise, the company offers a current and complete database of lakefront properties on their website that features only direct lakefront homes. All the “riverfront”, “oceanfront”, “across the street”, “within walking distance” homes are taken out of the site.

“Unfortunately, many people buying lakefront property are working with Realtors® not skilled in this area. Consequently, many people have inherited some headaches that could have been avoided,” said Freerksen. “By hiring local experts like Fern, Lakefront Living helps our clients avoid those mistakes so living on a lake is the fulfillment of a dream and not the start of a nightmare.”

For more information on Lakefront Living Realty’s services, you can visit their website at www.lakefrontliving.com. Additionally, Scott Freerksen regularly holds seminars on the keys to buying and selling lakefront property. Please visit the company website or call 508-377-7167 for the date and time of the next seminar.

About Lakefront Living Realty, LLC

Based in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Lakefront Living Realty, LLC is a full service real estate brokerage specializing solely on the purchase and sale of pond and lakefront property in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Owner Scott “The Lake Guy” Freerksen, a Real Estate Broker and Realtor, founded Lakefrontliving.com in 2003 as way to support his real estate practice and to bring to potential buyers and sellers a website that features direct lakefront homes. All the “riverfront”, “oceanfront”, “across the street”, “within walking distance” homes are taken out of the site.

Lakefront Living Realty has one mission: To passionately unite Buyers and Sellers of lakefront property. For complete information, please visit www.lakefrontliving.com or call Scott at 508-377-7167.

 

Lakefront expansion. Lakefront Living Realty hires Lake Quinsigamond and Shrewsbury resident Fern Nissim.Read More

HR Knowledge advises on when and how to outsource human resources

Jeff Garr, CEO

Juggling the needs of your business with business tasks can be a delicate balancing act. Whether you elect to do things in-house or outsource tasks such as human resources depends partially upon the company’s growth, and partially upon finding excellent outsourcing partners.

Jeffrey C. Garr, CEO of HR Knowledge, Inc., a leading HR, payroll and benefits service provider in the Boston area explained, “As a company grows, it’s important to know when to look for support outside of the company. This is referred to as outsourcing. Knowing your strengths helps you to determine what aspects of your business can be outsourced to a specialist, which ultimately saves you time and money in the long run.”

There are five keys to understanding when and how to outsource human resources for success:

1. Know your core value proposition. The first step to intelligently delegating work outside your company is understanding what you do best. This is your core value proposition. Many of the things that are important to running a business will pull your attention and focus away from the core value, and understanding it and knowing what it is that you do best will help your company grow and will also define those things that should be done within the company versus those activities that potentially could be outsourced.

2. Be organized. Before you can delegate you must create the specification of work. The extent in which you can clearly delineate the scope of the project or work will define how successful you will be. In addition, you should create a timetable for deliverables, a template for reporting, and an exit strategy if the relationship isn’t functioning the way you feel it should be. Not creating a clear understanding in the beginning could be a recipe for failure in the future.

3. Know Your Budget. Your time is valuable. You’re more likely productive at your core value proposition that you are to some of the supporting roles that are necessary to run a business. To that extent, outsourcing will actually save you money since you can be much more proficient doing what you do best and simply paying others to do what they do best.

4. Make a Plan. Authorized alterations can be expensive. If you have plan, try to stick to the plan. Each modification that sounds great as the project moves along may wind up costing in the end. Be sure that you have a goal and plan in mind and that you and your outsourced vendor are both sticking to that plan.

5. Don’t Settle. If you aren’t happy with the results or the partnership, it’s possible you missed one of the steps along the way – you may not have made a good plan, or you may not have clearly shared expectations. Either way, if it becomes apparent that the project is not progressing well, you should have an exit plan.

Garr continued, “Understanding and sharing expectations when it comes to outsourcing is critical for the relationship to be effective.”

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients.

HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).

Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge has been recognized as a Gold Level Broker by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. The company is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 890 Winter Street, Suite 208 in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at www.hrknowledge.com

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Maplewood Estates goes “new school”, celebrates the opening of the new Rogers Middle School with gift card for Maplewood Estates residents/students who will be attending the new school.

ROCKLAND, MASSACHUSETTS

The start of a school year is an adjustment for most families. If you just moved into a new house into a new town, it can be an even more challenging transition. In an effort to help ease the transition into the new school year, Maplewood Estates, a single-family home community located off Webster Street in Rockland, Massachusetts, is awarding new residents with children attending the new middle school, the John W. Rogers Middle School, with a $150 Staples gift card.

“The Rockland school system is one of the bigger benefits for families moving into Maplewood Estates, particularly if you have children that are middle school age and can attend the brand new school and later the soon-to-be-refurbished high school, said Bisher Hashem, Trustee of Maple Realty Trust, the developer of Maplewood Estates. “With all the expenses involved in moving into a new home, the Staples card is just our way of making sure each new resident of Maplewood Estates who is going to the new school has what they need to get started.”

In addition to the gift card, Maplewood Estates will also give $2,000 in additional upgrades for new residents of the development who sign a purchase-and-sale agreement between July 1 and August 15 and have children attending the new middle school. The Rockland Public School system starts school on Tuesday, September 4.

“We’re extremely proud of the new Middle School and the work being done on the high school,” said Rockland Superintendent John Retchless of the $86 million dollar project. “We feel the new school will improve the quality of services we can provide to our current students and be a very attractive draw to the Town of Rockland for families considering a move to the area.”

Construction on the high school portion is anticipated to be concluded by December 2012.

Maplewood Estates is set on 30 acres of natural wooded land and is located in the town of Rockland, Massachusetts. All of these beautiful homes offer many amenities and options to satisfy the savvy buyer looking to build a new home that comes with quality construction, quality living, and quality investment. Prices start at $348,000 and the size of homes range from just under 1700-square feet (the three-bed, Newbury) to the Gloucester (2740-square-feet and four bedrooms). Maplewood Estates is zoned for 72 homes.

Model homes at Maplewood Estates are open daily for tours by appointment. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Norwell is the official realtor for Maplewood Estates. You can schedule a tour or request more information by contacting:

Interested parties can also get more information, including plans, by visiting www.newhomesatmaplewood.com.

About Stonebridge Homes, Inc.:

For more than 20 years, Stonebridge Homes and its team, now based in South Easton, Massachusetts, have built many residential communities throughout the northeastern United States. More recently, Stonebridge has been focusing on building in towns of southeastern Massachusetts, including Abington, Easton, Raynham, Taunton, Franklin, West Bridgewater, Pembroke, Rockland, Whitman and Norwell. The styles of these communities have varied from imaginative condominiums to custom single‐family homes designed by its award‐winning in‐house architect, whose specialty is customizing dream homes for individuals, couples and families. Each development is built with the same commitment for quality and satisfaction.

Open house hours for Maplewood Estates are Saturday 12:00 to 3:00pm and Sunday 12:00 to 3:00pm. For more information visit www.newhomesatmaplewood.com, or call 508.230.2300.

Maplewood Estates goes “new school”, celebrates the opening of the new Rogers Middle School with gift card for Maplewood Estates residents/students who will be attending the new school.Read More

Pilgrim 14 to Appear in Plymouth District Court Wednesday

PLYMOUTH, MASS.

The 14 citizens arrested on May 20 for protesting the ongoing operation and destruction caused by the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will appear in Plymouth District Court tomorrow for a pre-trial hearing.

The “Pilgrim 14” were arrested May 20 at a rally and demonstration outside the Pilgrim station, which is operated by Entergy Nuclear Generating Corporation of Louisiana. The group was demonstrating in opposition of Entergy-Louisiana’s application for a 20-year operating license, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved on May 25.

The Pilgrim 14 were arrested and charged with trespassing when they attempted to deliver a letter to Entergy-Louisiana. The arrest was peaceful and those charged cooperated with police.

“There is unity among the defendants and we want to send a very clear message to Entergy-Louisiana: the NRC wrongly issued you a license to operate and it’s time to stop your assault upon Plymouth and Massachusetts,” said David Agnew of Cape Downwinders. “We also want citizens to contact their state officials and let them know the NRC’s relicensing was reckless, irresponsible and unacceptable without resolving all the environmental and public safety contentions.”

The Pilgrim 14 will appear in Plymouth District Court, 52 Obery Street, Plymouth tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

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South Coast Improvement Completes Construction and Renovation at Willow Creek Rehab and Care Center – Twice

South Coast Improvement, one of the largest design, construction and management companies in the Northeast, completed construction and renovation on Willow Creek Rehabilitation and Care Center, a 180 bed skilled nursing center located in Somerset, NJ. South Coast Improvement completed the project twice – before and after Hurricane Irene.

In early 2011, South Coast Improvement was contracted to provide a full renovation to Willow Creek Rehabilitation and Care Center. They successfully completed the job on time and within budget. The project scope included: the creation of STAR (Specialized Therapy and Rehabilitation) Wing within the facility; the addition of a dedicated entrance to the STAR Wing with porte-cochere; the creation of an enlarged OT/PT Gym; new construction of a 600 square foot Spa/Hydrotherapy room; construction of a new STAR Dining Room with custom millwork, solid surfaces and a Presentation Cooking Space; construction of new Staff Lounge/Locker Rooms; full renovation of all common areas and Administrative Offices; full upgrade of 168 rooms; construction of two custom nurses stations and new patient rooms from underutilized floor space; construction of a new Cyber Café and numerous building envelope improvements.

In the summer of 2011, Hurricane Irene devastated Willow Creek Rehabilitation and Care Center‘s entire facility, leaving it submerged in three feet of water. South Coast Improvement renovated the entire facility again, installing new walls, finishes, flooring, fixtures, millwork and HVAC. South Coast Improvement designed a functioning temporary egress plan and worked with town officials to secure permission to open 30 percent of the facility (The Traumatic Brain Injury Unit) in 30 days while the remainder of the facility was being renovated. The company mobilized crews to work seven days a week with multiple shifts to ensure the project‘s successful completion within 110 days.

Once construction was concluded, Willow Creek Rehabilitation’s owner hosted a grand Appreciation Lunch for South Coast Improvement and all the subcontractors for facilitating the center’s reopening in a timely manner.

Occupied and Operational Environments are SCI’s Niche

When it comes to complex renovation projects within occupied and operational environments, South Coast Improvement are the experts. The company provides new construction, full renovations, capital improvements, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

The company has successfully completed significant projects for healthcare facilities, educational institutions, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, senior living and residential communities throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. Their portfolio of healthcare and senior occupied renovation projects includes numerous projects for Atria, Benchmark and Welch Health Care & Retirement Group, to name a few. They have just completed their 23rd major renovation for Revera Health.

South Coast Improvement utilizes Special Building Practices to ensure the comfort and safety of special needs residents and patients who occupy the spaces that are being renovated. Their experience, high standards of compliance, overall quality and their ability to complete projects on time and on budget, sets them apart from their competitors.

About South Coast Improvement

South Coast Improvement offers an extensive range of design, construction and construction management services regionally in the Northeast and across the U.S. With decades of experience, the company is renowned for high quality, efficiency and high standards of compliance which sets them apart from their competitors. They are are engaged in projects across sectors that include healthcare, institutional, commercial, hospitality and planned communities/residential. The company offers pre-construction analysis, construction management, general contracting, design/build services, capital improvement, building envelope improvements and interior renovations.

South Coast Improvement maintains memberships and professional affiliations with the

Assisted Living Facility Association, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Facility Managers Association, the Community Associations Institute, as well as International Real Estate Managers and the Greater New Bedford Chamber of Commerce.

South Coast Improvement is headquartered at 208 Wareham Road in Marion, MA 02738.

For more information, contact (508) 748-6545; email Information@southcoastimprovement.com or visit the website at www.southcoastimprovement.com

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Shannon Thompson, D.P.M. Joins Boston Common Podiatry

Shannon Thompson D.P.M.

Shannon Thompson, D.P.M., an established podiatrist, has recently joined Boston Common Podiatry and is now accepting new patients.

Dr. Thompson holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine from Barry University in Florida. Previous to joining the practice, Dr. Thompson treated podiatry patients in a private sports medicine-oriented practice as well as a private podiatry practice. Previous to that, she was on staff at HealthDrive, an in-home healthcare service, where she provided geriatric podiatry care at several Boston area nursing homes.

“Dr. Thompson is a highly regarded, compassionate podiatrist and we’re delighted to have her on staff,” noted Jordana Szpiro, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., the practice’s founder.

Dr. Thompson is a Massachusetts native and Milton Academy alumnus.

About Boston Common Podiatry

Boston Common Podiatry specializes in the treatment of foot conditions including pain, fractures and sports-related injuries; complicated foot conditions caused by diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease; pediatric podiatry and molded orthotics. Boston Common Podiatry is one of the only providers in the Boston area using the powerful and innovative GenesisPlus Nd:YAG laser by Cutera, the most powerful FDA-cleared laser for the treatment of warts, fungus, scars and thermal resurfacing.

From athletes and dancers to marathon runners and high-heeled fashionistas to seniors and children, the renowned Boston Common Podiatry cares for patients from the greater Boston and Cape Cod areas.

Boston Common Podiatry physicians are Partner’s Healthcare affiliated physicians as well as on staff at several area hospitals including Mt. Auburn, a Harvard teaching hospital, and hospitals affiliated with the Cambridge Health Alliance. The practice is led by established Boston podiatrist, Jordana Szpiro, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S. Boston Common Podiatry is located at 264 Beacon Street, Second Floor, Boston, MA. For more information contact 617.262.2266 or visit bostoncommonpodiatry.com.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces A Matter of Balance Program

Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, will be helping residents living in Plymouth Housing Authority sites learn skills to improve their balance. OCES will be holding A Matter of Balance Program at the Plymouth Housing site High Cliff. The first session will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

A Matter of Balance is an eight-week program that will meet once a week for two hours. The program is designed to train seniors how to exercise for better balance and prevent falls.

Seniors learn how to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce the risk of falls in their own homes and increase strength and balance through exercises.

This program is ideal for seniors who have previously fallen; are interested in preventing falls while improving balance and strength; and have restricted activities because of falling concerns.

Matter of Balance is offered by OCES. There is no cost to attend. For more information and to register, contact Donna Forand, Outreach and Education Specialist at OCES (508) 584-1561 ext. 237.

A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance Volunteer Lay Leader Model and MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging are used and adapted by permission of Boston University.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers in 23 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Rodman & Rodman’s Kathy Parker Cites Challenges of Tax Incentive Complexities at Massachusetts Solar Summit 2012

(L to R) Massachusetts Solar Summit panelists Craig Huntley, Principal at Solect Energy, a major Massachusetts-based solar developer and Kathy Parker, CPA, MST, Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C, and a member of the accounting firm’s “Green Team” Renewable Energy and Cleantech Practice.

“While IRS Section 1603 Tax credits, combined with Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECS), created a boom in the Massachusetts Solar Industry, many solar companies are sitting on an inventory of solar panels and other materials for projects that have not begun construction by the end of the 2011 eligibility period,” Kathy Parker, CPA told a standing room only audience at the 2012 Solar Summit in Marlborough, MA, on June 13, 2012. Parker is a Partner at Rodman & Rodman, P.C, and a member of the accounting firm’s “Green Team” Renewable Energy and Cleantech Practice.

“Although the 1603 tax code provides ‘Safe Harbor’ provisions, qualifying for this protection can be a tricky process” said Parker. “Much of the tax code is vague, and qualification will depend on how materials purchases were accounted for and assigned to specific projects,” explained Parker. “Qualification is often based on subjective decisions by IRS examiners”, noted fellow “Financial Side Panel” member Craig Huntley, Principal at Solect Energy, a major Massachusetts-based solar developer.

Parker went on to explain that as 1603 grants expire and solar projects begin to get larger, financing will become more complicated. Where smaller projects were often financed by individuals and S Corporations with passive income that could take advantage of tax credits, it will become a challenge to find investors with enough of a tax appetite to invest in larger projects. Project and partner structuring to take advantage of tax incentives will become increasingly important, noted Parker.

“Commercial lenders are becoming more comfortable evaluating solar projects as reasonable risks, but as projects get bigger they become more complicated as the number of products and participants grows,” noted David Costello, Senior VP – Commercial Lending at Commerce Bank & Trust Company. “Banks will demand full disclosure on all parties involved in a project,” said Costello.

Panel moderator, Vincent Devito, Partner at law firm Bowditch & Dewey, explained that the solar industry in Massachusetts remains vibrant, but the industry will continue to rely on state and federal subsidies to attract investors. “These subsidies provide accelerated payback that can be as short as three years,” said Devito.

Summit keynote speaker, Ann Berwick, Chair – MA Department of Public Utilities, pegged present installed solar power capacity at 110 MW, citing state goals to bring capacity to 250 MW by 2017 and 400 MW by 2020.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961 and listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies. With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth. The Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C. that serves “green” clients throughout the U.S. The company is Green Business Certified and in 2010 and 2011 was named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today.

From business valuations, taxation, audits, fraud detection and prevention services and succession planning to a variety of accounting IT services including software selection, implementation and training, the team at Rodman & Rodman serves as comprehensive advisors to clients. For individual clients, the company offers personal advisory services such as planning for real estate transactions, obtaining financing, estate planning and retirement planning as well as planning for college education.

Rodman & Rodman, P.C. are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, email info@rodmancpa.com, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

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Old Colony Elder Services Announces Lower Sodium Workshop on July 12th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth County, is offering a Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshop on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at the Plymouth Council on Aging (COA), 10 Cordage Park Circle, Suite #108 in Plymouth.

This free workshop will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Plymouth COA.

Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshops teach individuals:

· About sodium and its effects on blood pressure.

· About high blood pressure, what it is and its causes.

· Which food sources are high in sodium.

· How to understand food labels.

· 20 ways to lower sodium in their diet.

“We held a Sodium and Its Effect on Blood Pressure workshop at the East Bridgewater COA in June and it was very well attended. This is one of our most popular workshops,” noted Donna Forand at OCES.

To learn more about the program, contact Donna Forand at OCES (508) 584-1561. To RSVP for the program, contact the Plymouth COA at (508) 830-4230.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers in 23 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts: Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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