Sentinel-Review (Woodstock)
FORMER WOODSTOCK MAYOR SENTENCED IN FINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE
Former Woodstock mayor Trevor Birtch's final court appearance to end his four-year odyssey through the criminal justice system for sexually assaulting women in his life was made quietly from a federal prison. Birtch, 51, appeared in a London courtroom...
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`IT GIVES ME HOPE': COMMUNITY MARCHES IN SUPPORT OF PRIDE
As vandalism incidents involving the Pride flag escalate in Norwich Township, so too has support for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. In the wake of flags being stolen, burned and even poles being cut down at multiple area schools, churches, and businesses,...
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$250K GIFT EXPANDS PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY TRAINING ATAREA HOSPITALS
A $250,000 donation to London's Children's Health Foundation will be used to expand the reach of a program that delivers simulated pediatric emergency training to community hospitals across Ontario, officials say. The foundation, the fundraising arm...
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Community partnerships lead to new Woodstock affordable housing project
For the third time this year, Oxford County and the City of Woodstock were celebrating another “housing-for-all” project. On the heels of opening a building with affordable units at 785 Southwood Way and the purchase of the former YMCA Building for a...
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FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were among potential employers represented at the French post-secondary fair at Woodstock's École secondaire catholique Notre-Dame. Organized by guidance counsellors Cristina Pezzutto and Melissa Hiscocks, the event...
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JUMP START
Addison Syvret, 9, a student at Holy Family Catholic French Immersion school in Woodstock jumps during last week's long jump competition at the London District Catholic school board's elementary track and field meet at Alumni Stadium at Western...
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HAVING A BALL
Belen Carrion, a Grade 6 student at Holy Family Catholic French immersion school in Woodstock makes a toss during the ball throw competition at the London District Catholic school board elementary track and field meet at Alumni Stadium at Western...
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ONTARIO PASSES LAW TO REMOVE COUNCILLORS FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
After five years of pressure, the Ford government has passed legislation allowing municipal councillors to be removed from office for serious code-of-conduct violations. On Tuesday, Ontario MPPs voted to pass Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act,...
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SHOWING THEIR GRATITUDE
The residents and staff at Cedarview Retirement Living in Woodstock hosted a special celebration as part of First Responders Appreciation Month. Sixteen first responders from the community, including local police officers, firefighters and paramedics,...
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IN THE RHYTHM
St. Mary's Catholic high school student Jewelle Mensah, blue, is closely followed by Amelia Weber, red, from St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational Institute during the women 80-metre hurdles at the Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic...
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GOING FOR GOLD
Eva Wilson from College Avenue secondary school in Woodstock takes part in the senior girls' high jump competition on Thursday, May 21, at Western Alumni Stadium in London. Wilson finished this Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Assocation...
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EX-WOODSTOCK MAYOR SENTENCED TO NEARLY FIVE YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS
Trevor Birtch's prison sentence for violent sexual assaults on a former intimate partner marked the final act of what a judge called “a catastrophic fall from grace.” The former two-term Woodstock mayor, who had no criminal record, was led out of a...
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ON TRACK
Kirk Hallman of Lord Dorchester secondary school traded laps with Noah Cann of Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute until late in Friday's senior boys' 3,000-metre race at the second day of the Thames Valley Regional Athletics rrack and field meet....
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FIRST NATIONS PUSH BACK ON FAST-TRACKING POWER PROJECT
Ontario wants to see its newest nuclear power project in the province's southwest move ahead quickly, but two nearby Indigenous communities say the mega-project cannot be rushed. The Ford government is under pressure to find new long-term sources of...
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CANADA'S AUTO INDUSTRY COULD DISAPPEAR BY 2040, RBC WARNS
Canada's auto industry, based largely in Ontario, could disappear by 2040 unless the country regains duty-free access to the U.S. market or finds other ways to keep the sector afloat, one of Canada's biggest banks warns. At an industry conference in...
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Ontario Uber drivers to help out during flooding and other emergencies
Uber drivers already drive Ontarians to airports, pick up groceries and deliver pizzas. Now, they'll also help deliver supplies and transport people to evacuation centres during emergencies. On Thursday, Uber Canada became the latest organization to...
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`VISIONARY' UNITED WAY OXFORD LEADER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
A decades-long champion of Oxford County has announced her retirement. Kelly Gilson, executive director of the United Way Oxford for 23 years, will retire at the end of September. Previously, she headed the Business Improvement Association for 17...
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Oxford Warden Marcus Ryan won't seek re-election
Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan has announced he will not be running for re-election as mayor of Zorra Township in the upcoming municipal election. Ryan, who has served as the Zorra's mayor since 2018 and warden since 2022, is also the current chair...
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FROM WOODSTOCK TO SARNIA: MAYORS WEIGH NEXT MOVES AS NOMINATIONS OPEN
Although voters won't head to the polls until late October to cast ballots for municipal politicians, Friday marks the first day candidates can file paperwork to officially throw their hats in the ring. The Free Press' Brian Williams spoke with some of...
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UPPER THAMES CONSERVATION AREAS OPEN FOR CAMPING MAY 1
Southwestern Ontario campers who are eager to spend a night or two outdoors can start booking sites at three local conservation areas. Starting Friday, May 1, at 8 a.m., the Pittock, Wildwood and Fanshawe conservation areas are officially open for the...
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Finger Eleven announced as Cowapolooza headliner
The band formerly known as the Rainbow Butt Monkeys will be headlining Woodstock's “favourite summer festival” when Cowapolooza returns to Southside Park in mid-August. City officials announced Tuesday that Finger Eleven, the Burlington-based rock...
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Ontario limits access to some government records – does it matter?
Members of the Opposition heckled and chanted “F-O-I, F-O-I” as the Ford government passed its controversial changes to Ontario's Freedom of Information (FOI) rules on Thursday. From now on, it will be much harder to get a look inside the workings of...
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POTTER'S FIELD PROJECT HONOURED WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S AWARD
A Western University project that identified nearly 400 individuals buried in unmarked graves in Ingersoll captured the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation earlier this month. Led by Ingersoll resident and...
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New Oxford County affordable housing project unveiled
Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan admits the county's aim of having every citizen living in stable housing is lofty. But regardless of the odds, he's still willing to chase that goal. “It's a lofty goal, but frankly it's the only acceptable one,” Ryan...
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Norfolk, Brantford, Woodstock police join forces at Polar Plunge
Dozens of brave souls gathered on the beach at Turkey Point on Saturday to raise money for a good cause. Police officers from the Norfolk OPP and the Woodstock, and Brantford police services were joined by Special Olympics athletes to take part in the...
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HOMETOWN SCHOOL RALLIES BEHIND JEREMY HANSEN AS ARTEMIS II NEARS LAUNCH
Excitement is building at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute, whose halls Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen once roamed as a student. If all goes to plan Wednesday evening, Hansen will become the first Canadian, alongside three Americans, to fly...
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UNITED WAY OXFORD CELEBRATES CAMPAIGN'S SUCCESS
The United Way Oxford marked the end of another successful fundraising campaign with a Thursday night celebration that focused on a theme of “community and belonging.” Of course, the highlight of this celebration was the announcement of $1,315,358 that...
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CALLS GROW FOR ONTARIO TO TAP BRAKES ON CONSERVATION AUTHORITY CHANGES
Calls are growing for the Ontario government to slow down its plan to overhaul the province's conservation authority system. On Wednesday, Halton Region council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the province to do more consultations before it...
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Ford government defends OSAP changes as students weigh strikes
Ontario's Progressive Conservative government spent Tuesday defending changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), as hundreds of students protested outside Queen's Park and raised the possibility of provincewide student strikes. “It is...
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Woodstock `Goes for Soda': Kim Mitchell headlining Canada Day celebration
Woodstock officials have decided to do their “Rock N Roll Duty” when celebrating the city's 125th anniversary on Canada Day. Kim Mitchell, the Canadian rock legend and former Max Webster frontman, will be taking the stage in Southside Park on...
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FACE-PAINTING FUN
The luck of the Irish was shining down on families attending the St. Patrick's Day event at the Delhi Hungarian House on March 17. The free event featured bouncy castles, face painting, a petting zoo and ice cream treats for youngsters. Pictured is...
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INGERSOLL FIRM LANDS $300M DEFENCE CONTRACT TO MAKE ARTILLERY SHELLS
INGERSOLL An industry here has landed a $300-million contract, creating more than 300 jobs, to make artillery shells for the Canadian Armed Forces, Canada's defence minister announced on Wednesday morning. IMT Precision, located on King Street, has...
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PROVINCIAL EDUCATION SHAKEUP WILL NOT DISTRACT CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES
The chair of the London District Catholic school board says trustees heading into an election year aren't phased by the province's tightening grip on the education system. Trustees have until May 1 to file for the fall election, Gabe Pizzuti...
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BANDS BATTLE FOR RECORD STORE DAY SLOT AT THE RECORD WORKS
It's been nearly 20 years since Doug Marsh celebrated his very first Record Store Day. That first year, there was still some confusion over exactly what Record Store Day entailed, but Marsh made sure his store, the Record Works, was part of it. He...
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Mount Elgin manufacturer celebrates $3.2M expansion
A Mount Elgin-based agri-business is getting nearly half-a-million dollars from a provincial development fund to help with a sizeable new expansion that will mean five new jobs. The Straw Boss, an Oxford County producer of clean, chopped straw and...
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GEMS & JAVA BLENDS FUN, INSPIRATION AND COMPASSION FOR ETHIOPIA
An afternoon of shopping, entertainment, delicious food and meaningful connection is planned for April 18 as Hearts for Ethiopia hosts its Gems & Java fundraiser. Organizers promise a joyful and moving experience -- an event that brings the local...
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Oxford County approves several new traffic-safety measures
Oxford County council has approved several traffic-calming measures that target identified areas of public concern throughout the region. Following the completion of a series of safety reviews, citizen discussions and follow-up studies, which resulted...
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SIP & PAINT
The Woodstock Art Gallery enjoyed a successful — and soldout — Valentine's Sip & Paint session earlier this month. Led by artist Roxanne Tochor, the event had participants explore their creativity by painting on wooden hearts while enjoying a beverage...
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HUNTER WHO KILLED DOGS LOSES HUNTING LICENCE FOR ONE YEAR, FINED $3,000
A 27-year-old Aylmer man has been fined $3,000 and had his hunting licence suspended for a year after pleading guilty to two charges stemming from a hunting incident that left two dogs dead last year. Appearing by video at the Provincial Offences...
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Humanoid robots set for Woodstock auto plant. Should workers be worried?
The science-fiction fantasy of human-like robot working next to flesh and blood people is becoming a reality on the shop floor of the Toyota automotive assembly plant in Woodstock. The automaker is leasing three humanoid robots, quaintly called Digit,...
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FREEZING RAIN, PANIC: AREA PARENTS RECOUNT CHAOS AFTER SCHOOL BUS SLID INTO DITCH
A parent driving behind a school bus carrying about 40 elementary students described tense moments Wednesday morning after it slide into a ditch in rural Oxford County, sending four children to hospital. Shortly before 9 a.m., Oxford OPP said...
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Woodstock area pupils first in 30 years to attend new elementary school
For the first time in more than 30 years Woodstock pupils are enjoying a brand-new elementary school. Turtle Island elementary school, home to about 750 pupils in north Woodstock, opened Tuesday, said principal Holly Powell. The last school to have...
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OXFORD'S OLYMPIAN
Ella Shelton of Team Canada passes the puck during the first period of Saturday's women's quarter-final between Canada and Germany at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on the eighth day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games in Milan, Italy....
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FROM SW ONTARIO TO THE MOON
Decades ago, a fiveyear-old boy was flipping through an encyclopedia at his family's Southwestern Ontario home when he found a photo of Neil Armstrong on the moon. It captivated him. And it stayed with him. “He went out that night, looked at the moon...
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OXFORD COUNTY MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Local historian Heather Rennalls speaks Tuesday before the raising of the Pan-African flag in front of Oxford County's administration building as part of Black History Month observances. Rennalls was joined by members of the local Black History Month...
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KEY TRADE TALKS LOOM, UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS
OK, take a deep breath. Relax, we can work through this. When a discussion on the future of the automotive industry in Canada sounds more like a yoga mantra than economic analysis, it illustrates how volatile, even fragmented, the industry has...
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OXFORD MUNICIPALITIES TAKE PART IN ROMA CONFERENCE
The annual Rural Ontario Municipalities Association Conference (ROMA) held last month in Toronto drew many Oxford County politicians interested in connecting with other municipal and provincial leaders. Representatives from the Western Ontario...
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Cami union head reflects on 35 years
Mike Van Boekel has led workers at Cami Assembly in Ingersoll through some of the most turbulent periods in the plant's history. After 35 years, the chairperson of Unifor Local 88 is retiring. Friday was his last day. Van Boekel, 58, reflects on his...
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AREA POLICE TAKE PASS ON JOINING GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM
No Southwestern Ontario police forces are joining the federal government's controversial gun buyback program, citing concerns about the scope of the initiative and the need to prioritize police resources. The Liberal's assault-style firearm...
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WOODSTOCK TRUCK STOP GETS NEW LEASE ON LIFE
After sitting vacant for roughly four years, a Woodstock truck stop will soon be again welcoming drivers who need a break, some gas and a bite to eat. The former TA Truck Stop — a popular stop for truckers along Highway 401 and Oxford County locals —...
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TOYOTA'S NEW HYBRID RAV4 SIGNALS STABILITY AMID AUTO-SECTOR TURMOIL
At a time the automotive industry in Southwestern Ontario has been rocked by volatility and uncertainty, Toyota offered a reminder Friday on the importance of stability. The automaker, with plants in Cambridge and Woodstock employing about 8,500...
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TEMPERED GLASS MANUFACTURER TO BEGIN HIRING 30 WORKERS
Woodstock's new glass manufacturer is in the market for employees, its opening pushed back by delays in the shipping of equipment and finding suppliers not subject to American tariffs. Greg Kasminas, executive vice-president of Woodstock Glass...
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WOODSTOCK MARKING 125TH BIRTHDAY WITH EVENTS, CONTESTS
To mark its 125th birthday, Woodstock is upping its game with a wide range of ways to salute its history — even a commemorative coin contest — that peak on the nation's birthday. Every big annual event normally held in the Oxford County city will be...
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HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION TOP AGENDA FOR NEW WESTERN ONTARIO CAUCUS CHAIR
As he takes the reins of an advocacy group for 15 counties in western Ontario, Oxford County's top politician says tackling homelessness and addiction are among the major issues the group faces this year. Marcus Ryan, the warden of Oxford County, was...
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OXFORD COUNTY STILL SEARCHING FOR SITE FOR HOMELESS SERVICE CENTRE
More than a year after Woodstock voted to spend a $2-million provincial windfall on the project, Oxford County is still looking for a suitable site for a proposed service centre to help the area's homeless. Marcus Ryan, the warden of Oxford County,...
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Expansion of Woodstock community centre for older adults nearly finished
A Woodstock community centre for older adults is preparing to take the wraps off a $9 million expansion. “I'm so excited to share it with the community and to take people through. The possibilities for it are endless,” said Chris Cunningham, executive...
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WOODSTOCK LEADS NATIONAL SIGNUPS FOR COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR FUNDRAISER
Already a stand-out in a national fundraiser to help the homeless, Woodstock is running tops in Canada in the number of people and teams signed up to take part in this year's event. The Woodstock edition of the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser...
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AUTO BELT ANXIETY
It's been a bittersweet year for autoworker Rachel Knapp, who lost both her father and her job at an Ingersoll factory idled by slow sales of an electric cargo delivery van. “I've been a little stressed,” said the 29-year-old Woodstock resident, who...
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MUSEUM STAFFER'S HANDS-ON LEARNING A HERITAGE HIT OUT OF THE PARK
In a Southwestern Ontario village where baseball history looms large, a staffer at a small museum has scored a heritage home run with her hands-on approach to teaching history. Sidney Williams, who says she was inspired by people asking what they...
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OPTIMISM ON THE DEALER LOT, DESPITE INDUSTRY TUMULT
Even with all the uncertainty swirling around Ontario's auto industry, especially from trade tensions with the United States, it's been a solid year for vehicle sales, industry insiders say. Out on dealership lots, where Big Auto meets the consumer,...
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BOY HONOURS LATE COUSIN WITH TOY DRIVE FOR KIDS IN HOSPITAL OVER CHRISTMAS
A toy drive for children stuck in hospital over the holidays wrapped up Thursday. Started by Nolan Petch in 2021 to honour his cousin, the Annual Hunter Weston Memorial Toy Drive collects toys, clothes and cash donations to help lift the spirits of...
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Grassroots group unhappy with 2026 Oxford County budget
A grassroots community group approached Oxford County council during its mid-December meeting lobbying for a zero per cent property tax hike in 2026. Along with a presentation to council outlining the reasons for their request, the Stand4Oxford...
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FEDERAL LOANS BOOST THREE REGIONAL MANUFACTURERS AS CAMI PLANT SITS IDLE
In the shadow of the idled Cami Assembly plant here, three area manufacturers Tuesday received federal investment that will grow their businesses and promise new jobs. FedDev Ontario, the federal economic development funding agency, is giving $5...
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OXFORD COUNTY GIVES MORE DETAILS ABOUT CYBERATTACK BREACHES
Oxford County has disclosed several programs and services targeted in a September cyberattack that also potentially compromised the personal information of about 4,000 current and former employees. In a Friday news release, Oxford County officials...
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EXPANSION OF SOUTHSIDE PARK ON THE TABLE IN WOODSTOCK CAPITAL BUDGET VOTE
It will be a good news story for Woodstock residents who would see no impact on their tax levies if city council decides to expands the city's landmark park, Southside. The proposal to expand the park – at an expected cost $240,000 in 2026, with a...
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