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Spotlight Stories


  • The Kenney

    SEEKING STABILITY: The Kenney’s new status

  • Blue Angels

    BLUE ANGELS: Practicing today

  • Concert

    ADMIRAL MUSIC IN PARKS: Final concert tonight

West Seattle snow again? Forecast gets flaky
February 7, 2009 5:20 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle weather

The latest National Weather Service forecast really does suggest we might see some snow next Tuesday. Cliff Mass‘s latest update (from Friday) foresees a “wintry mix.”

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When to call 911, and when not to? Find out firsthand
February 7, 2009 5:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

It’s been discussed here before: Southwest Precinct police leadership advises “call 911 if you see something/someone suspicious,” and we’ve reported that here, multiple times; then on occasion someone who does call, reports back that they were told that wasn’t an emergency and they shouldn’t have called 911. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has been pursuing such concerns with 911 system managers, and Lt. Greg Schmidt, who runs the SPD 911 center, will be the guest at the next WSCPC meeting a week from Tuesday, to explain how it works, to answer questions, to listen to concerns. The reason we’re telling you now is not just so you can mark your calendar, but also because, if you have a specific question they can get to him in advance, particularly about a specific case in which you called 911 and didn’t get the response you expected, they’d like to hear from you by next Thursday – e-mail the WSCPC’s staff liaison from Seattle Neighborhood Group (which by the way is NOT a city agency), Jennifer Duong, at jennifer@sngi.org. The council’s meeting also, as always, will include crime reports and neighborhood “hot spot” concerns; it’ll be at 7 pm February 17 at the SW Precinct meeting room.

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Followup: Firm chosen to build Alki Point sidewalks, traffic calming
February 7, 2009 12:04 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

This past week’s California Place Park meeting reminded us we hadn’t checked lately on another alkipointsidewalk1.jpgcontentious issue we’d covered in Alki Community Center meetings last year — the plan to finish some sidewalk connections around Alki Point and install “traffic calming” measures as part of the project (past coverage includes these reports: 2/08, 4/08). So we called Sandra “Sam” Woods, the SDOT project manager. She says the contract for this project has been awarded – it’s part of a package of “several projects” around the city, to be handled by Construct Co. No date is set yet for construction to start – the “notice to proceed” has to be finalized – but as previously projected, it’s expected this spring/summer, Woods says. She calls the project “terrific” because of components including raised crosswalks at both ends (roughly, 65th/Alki and the start of Beach Drive) as well as work at 63rd/Alki to more clearly direct westbound traffic to turn south on 63rd rather than taking the existing “straight shot” ahead on the nonarterial section of Alki – this map marks those three spots:


View Larger Map

We’ll get a closer look at the specific plans during a walking tour with neighborhood leaders next week; the project’s page on the city website is here.

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Seattle Lutheran seniors’ project: Everything old is new again!
February 7, 2009 8:01 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Those are the two local students who recently posted a note in the WSB Forums that caught our eye. It read, in part:

Our names are Grace Puffert and Mary Griffin and we’re seniors at Seattle Lutheran High School. Every year, each senior is required to create and execute a senior project that should in some way give back and benefit the community. We decided to have a community Fashion Show in order to raise money for Providence Mount Saint Vincent Nursing Home (where we both are volunteers) here in West Seattle.

The theme of our fashion show is “Fashion through the Ages” (WORKING ON A BETTER TITLE!). Our hope is to exhibit clothing from each era beginning with 1900. So this is where you come in, if anyone would like to donate or lend clothing (era-oriented) or their services to helping us put this show on, it would be GREATLY appreciated. We really would like to bring together the entire West Seattle community on this project

Grace and Mary (left/right in the photo above) got some quick e-mail replies, and one was from us – to arrange a chat with them to find out more about what they’re doing and how you can help. So we sat down at a local coffeehouse one recent night to chat …Read More

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Weekend Lineup refresher: Today/tonight highlights
February 7, 2009 6:16 am
|    Comments Off on Weekend Lineup refresher: Today/tonight highlights
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | WS culture/arts

wswllicon3.pngLots of options today, and clicking here will take you directly to our list of them, in the Saturday section of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Highlights include Neighbor Appreciation Day activities at Southwest Pool (free swim at 1 pm!) and 2 community centers, fundraisers including a student car wash and the Rocksport silent auction/live music tonight for Waunda from Sports Junction, and work parties where you can help spruce up West Seattle’s natural treasures, including Lincoln Park and Camp Long. Head directly to the Saturday lineup here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Morgan Junction break-in attempt
February 6, 2009 11:50 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Linda tells the story of what she found when she got home tonight (6300 block of 40th SW; map):Read More

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Video: Total Experience Gospel Choir at Alki Elementary
February 6, 2009 9:04 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle video

Thanks to Alki Elementary for letting WSB share this afternoon’s Black History Month assembly, starring Pastor Pat Wright and members of Seattle’s world-famous Total Experience Gospel Choir. (They’re practically a West Seattle institution, since, as noted in our Kenyon Hall article two weeks ago, they rehearse at KH every week.) With Alki students watching, enrapt, from the floor — sometimes singing and clapping, too — the singers filled the cafeteria with joyful tunes, and then a surprise in the middle of “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” — as choir members did exactly that, fanning out through the crowd:

Find out more about the Total Experience Gospel Choir (members “10 to 65 years old,” as mentioned today) at its website.

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Site-seeing: Sustainable West Seattle relaunch; Puget Sound News
February 6, 2009 8:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Site-seeing: Sustainable West Seattle relaunch; Puget Sound News
 |   Environment | West Seattle online

Two links to share if you are Web-wandering tonight: Just got word from Alki Bike and Board‘s Stu Hennessey that Sustainable West Seattle has relaunched its website with a brand-new look; check it out at sustainablewestseattle.org. Also just heard about a new site focusing on news about Puget Sound – pugetsoundnews.org, “a project of the University of Washington’s Environmental Journalism class” this semester, according to its About page.

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West Seattle school update: New principal for Sanislo Elementary
February 6, 2009 4:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The communications team at Seattle Public Schools tells us they’re not formally announcing districtwide principal changes till Monday, most of which result from last week’s school closure/change vote and other “capacity management” decisions made in the past few months, but we have confirmation tonight of one change affecting a West Seattle school: Sanislo Elementary principal Debbie Nelsen is going to lead the new Jane Addams K-8 school in the north end; Ernie Seevers, who has been at AS #1 Pinehurst, is coming to Sanislo. A letter is going home to Sanislo families today; we’ve just received a copy. See it here; the letter says the change will take effect July 1st. Other reported changes are being discussed in this comment thread on saveseattleschools.blogspot.com, including one that affects West Seattle families of students in the elementary APP (top-level gifted) program — Lowell Elementary principal Julie Breidenbach reportedly will become principal of the school to which West Seattle-area APP students will be redirected next year, Thurgood Marshall.

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WSB FYI: A survey with questions about us, isn’t being done by us
February 6, 2009 3:56 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online | WS miscellaneous

It’s come to our attention (thanks!) that a phone survey under way in West Seattle right now includes questions about WSB — apparently, what you like, and what you don’t like. Just to make you sure know, in case your phone rings, this survey is NOT being done BY us. computer.jpgWe prefer to have direct contact with you, from you, any time you have something to say. But in case there IS something you’ve been meaning to tell us you DON’T like – DO like – or would like to see – let us renew our invitation: Call us, e-mail us, text us, send us a tweet, send us a Facebook message, OR send us good-old-fashioned postal mail, any time, 24/7/365. (This page has all our contact info for all those methods.) Or leave a comment on this post! Almost every improvement we’ve put in place here in the past few years has been in direct response to suggestions, requests, complaints, and we’re working on more upgrades/additions even as we speak. Thanks again for making WSB West Seattle’s most-read community-news source (1.5 million pageviews in the past two months alone, with at least 17,000 homes/businesses checking in at least once a week) – although it’s not “being read” that we find most exciting – it’s collaborating with you – to find and share West Seattle news/information.

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Traffic alert: Alaskan Way Viaduct’s Seneca ramp closed Saturday
February 6, 2009 1:42 pm
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Alaskan Way Viaduct’s Seneca ramp closed Saturday
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT – read ahead for the full alert:Read More

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West Seattle Hi-Yu float is almost homeless: Can you help ASAP?
February 6, 2009 12:37 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

One month ago, we brought you an update from the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival leadership, seeking new storage space for their float – which represents West Seattle in parades around the region. Today, Hi-Yu’s Carol Winston e-mailed to say that while they’ve gotten some “leads,” they’re out of time – the float MUST be out of its temporary storage space TOMORROW. Here’s what Carol says they’re looking for:

We need a secure area that can park our 24’ trailer with float vehicle on top. Ideally an enclosed site, such as warehouse space, large garage, etc. would be nice, but at this point just an outside fenced space would be an answer to prayer. We need the space for a month or so, although we also have to find space to start building the float. If someone had a space that would work for both….that would be awesome! It doesn’t necessarily need to be in West Seattle, but somewhere close by would be great.

UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST: If you can help, here’s who to call: Hi-Yu president Tim Winston at 206-938-2088.

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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Anytime Fitness in West Seattle
February 6, 2009 11:50 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online

Today we’re welcoming our newest WSB sponsor, Anytime Fitness. Here’s what this brand-new West Seattle business would like you to know: Anytime Fitness is a 24-hour coed fitness center where members can work out any time day or night, every day of the year. A 3000-square-foot fitness boutique that opened its doors in December, this is a brand-new facility with state-of-the-art cardio equipment, weights, and a personable atmosphere. Anytime Fitness also offers 24-hour tanning and membership reciprocity among its clubs, which allows members to use any of the more than 900 clubs that are currently open in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Looking for a new fitness routine? Getting ready for that 5k? Shaping up for summer? Owners Weston Smith and Dave Preston are dedicated to assisting their members in committing to important fitness goals by providing free fitness education, highly trained staff, and a non-intimidating environment that is sure to produce results! Anytime‘s smaller, intimate atmosphere allows its members to work more closely with their trainers, in an efficient and convenient setting.

On Saturday, February 21st, at 2 pm, Anytime Fitness will host Valerie Waugaman, known as ‘SIREN’ of NBC’s hit television reality series, “American Gladiators” (photo right). The public is invited and admission is free. Valerie is also a professional athlete, successful business owner, and motivational speaker who will be speaking on personal success and putting on a fitness workshop. She will be available for autographs and pictures.

Anytime Fitness is located on the second floor of the new Charlestown Center at Charlestown/California (map). WSB welcomes Anytime to our sponsor lineup, listed here along with information on how to be part of it.

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From Fauntleroy: New newsletter; community conversations
February 6, 2009 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on From Fauntleroy: New newsletter; community conversations
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

The latest quarterly newsletter from the Fauntleroy Community Association is now available online (via PDF, here). Some of the issues covered are ones that we’ve kept you up to date on as well, including the latest on the Washington State Ferries Long-Range Plan (newest updates here and here; our Fauntleroy coverage is all archived here). But there’s also news you may not have heard, including the latest on a traffic-calming effort along 47th between Brace Point and SW 98th, seen here in Google Street View:


View Larger Map

And the newsletter announces a series of conversations and events at Fauntleroy Church on a subject that’s so near and dear to us, we’re honored to have been asked to be part of it: “Re-creating Community in Our Day.” For six successive Wednesday nights starting February 25th, this topic will be tackled in a variety of ways, from the 2/25 kickoff screening of the acclaimed “Fauntleroy Story” documentary, to author/former city Department of Neighborhoods leader Jim Diers speaking on 3/25. (Your WSB co-publishers will be the speakers on 3/11, for the topic “the impact of media on our sense of belonging to a community.” Full list of events is on the Fauntleroy Church home page; other Fauntleroy community events are on the FCA website, including a reminder of the all-community, multi-topic meeting coming up February 18th, which will include an SDOT rep discussing the recently announced “rechannelization” of Fauntleroy Way between California and Edmunds.

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Freebies, fun, and ways to help
February 6, 2009 8:32 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

wswllicon3.pngFirst the freebies – swimming and yoga; then, the fun is all over the list, including Rainbow Bingo, baseball tryouts, a family night out for parents of diabetic children, a world-premiere musical event; and the ways to help include everything from a pancake breakfast to tea to a silent auction to “Have a Heart” haircuts — all among the more than 40 events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More

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Junction shooting update: Benefit posters up; killers still at large
February 6, 2009 2:45 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s the poster that Stacey Bushaw tells WSB has been distributed throughout West Seattle to invite everyone to this Sunday afternoon’s event benefiting the family of her cousin, Steve Bushaw, the 26-year-old man shot and killed in The Junction last Sunday night. The two men who shot him are still on the loose; police have not provided any new information, so all we know is what we originally reported (here’s our coverage from the night it happened, plus followups the next morning and afternoon).

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Southwest District Council toplines: Parking, park, P-patches …
February 5, 2009 11:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Southwest District Council toplines: Parking, park, P-patches …
 |   Gardening | Junction parking review | Junction Plaza Park | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Updates constituted most of the highlights from Wednesday night’s Southwest District Council meeting — representatives from neighborhood groups and other key organizations dealing with the section of West Seattle that the city calls the SW District (map). In the photo above is Dante Taylor, who’s traveling the West Seattle meeting circuit to remind everyone that the city’s Junction parking review is getting under way (all our coverage is archived here). Regarding the big question, whether pay stations will be the result, Taylor stressed nothing is settled – the study is supposed to determine whether they would be needed anywhere to keep cars moving and create a steady flow of people through the business district. One of his previous appearances (WSB coverage here) was at the January meeting of the Junction Neighborhood Organization, whose president Erica Karlovits is co-chair of the SWDC; she reiterated concerns her group wants to keep on the front burner – “park and hiders,” who drive to Junction neighborhoods and leave their cars while catching buses to downtown, and construction workers parking in neighborhoods. Ahead, another Junction item – the latest on the 42nd/Alaska park – and more SWDC notes:Read More

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West Seattle student’s invitation to you: Remember This Benefit
February 5, 2009 9:19 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle student’s invitation to you: Remember This Benefit
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

High-school students have a lot more responsibilities these days than we recall from way back when. Community-service requirements, and senior projects, among them. We’ve heard lately from a couple students with amazing-sounding projects – including this: The photo above shows Emily Meyer with her mom Betsy Meyer, who died last fall after years of battling early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, chronicled in a remarkable Seattle Times series (linked from this story about her death). Emily, a senior at Seattle Lutheran High School, e-mailed us this week to say that she’s planning a benefit to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in her mom’s memory, and even though the event isn’t happening in West Seattle, she wondered if we could announce it here:

Remember This Benefit
Friday, February 27th, 2009
Doors open at 7:30pm; Show starts at 8:00pm
At The Vera Project
Located on the corner of Warren & Republican Ave N, next to the Key Arena in Seattle Center
Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 day of show
All ages are invited
www.myspace.com/rememberthisbenefit
Join us for a benefit concert with incredible musical performances by Kids and Animals, On the Last Day and more! Proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of the late Betsy Meyer, Seattle Times memorable person of the year. For more information contact the benefit coordinator, Emily Meyer, Betsy’s 18-year-old daughter, at 206.719.7188.

It’s in the WSB Events calendar, too. Meantime, we’re working on a story about two of Emily’s classmates, who announced their senior project recently in the WSB Forums, and are looking for help – look for that story tomorrow.

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Another celebrity visit at Roxbury Safeway: “Oprah’s trainer”
February 5, 2009 7:02 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

Still wondering “why Roxbury Safeway?” (No other grocery stores around here seem to have celebrity appearances.) Anyway – First, it was American Idol finalist Chris Richardson last March (WSB coverage here), now, “Oprah’s trainer,” Bob Greene, will be at Roxbury Safeway 11 am-1 pm tomorrow. Thanks to the non-West Seattle tipster who kindly let us know.

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West Seattle wildlife (sort of): Horse training; bird watching
February 5, 2009 5:17 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood | Wildlife

Sorry, no goat reunions today, but we do have two animal photos to share, and one in fact DOES involve police: That first photo – which we snapped by cameraphone during an afternoon errand at Westwood Village – is in desperate need of a caption. Just can’t think of it. Suggestions? Police told us they took these horses to WV to help them get used to car traffic. (The Seattle Police Mounted Patrol, by the way, is based right here in West Seattle, in Westcrest Park.) Meantime, traveling Beach Drive just north of Me-Kwa-Mooks, we had to pull over and admire this big bird, more than three times the size of the crows that were harassing him/her:

Peregrine falcon? UPDATE: “K” suggests, in the comment section, that it might be a young bald eagle. Photos like this seem to verify that possibility (and of course eagles ARE often seen around Alki/Beach Drive).

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Update: West Seattle Lotto winners’ rep picks up check
February 5, 2009 4:28 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

As mentioned in our previous post, the representative for the group with the $6.8 million winning Lotto ticket sold at Admiral 7-11 (original WSB report here) has claimed the check. He declined an interview but the Washington State Lottery sent the photo above and this news release with info:

This past Monday was not just another typical Monday for the members of Josal Partners. While reading the morning paper over a cup of tea, they realized they had won the $6.8 million Lotto jackpot.

“Incredulity would sum up the reaction,” joked John Gose, the group’s managing partner. Gose, who spoke on behalf of Josal Partners, is an attorney and an ex-marine. The partners’ reactions were clearly incredulous.

“Lottery is a daydreaming game and daydreams change from day to day,” said Gose about why the group plays. Whatever their daydreams were that day, they are a reality now.

The winners, who were skeptical about their “incredulous” situation, were sure to check additional sources to confirm the win after initially seeing their numbers in the Seattle Times. “I’m not good with numbers!” joked Gose. So one of the partners took the ticket to a “very accurate” accountant, who instantly proclaimed, “No #@%$, you won!,” after giving the ticket a good look.

“The win has provided funds that would not have otherwise been available,” explained Gose. “The money will be going toward paying off debts and providing education for children and grandchildren.” Another member of the partners added there has also been some talk of shopping for a new truck.

The winners said that this was their first time experiencing a big Lottery win. The same can’t be said of the store that sold the ticket. The West Seattle 7-Eleven where the winning ticket was purchased has sold a big Lotto jackpot before. A Federal Way man won $11 million in 1994. As part of the Lottery’s retail program, this 7-11 will be receiving a retail bonus of $68,000.

Gose had some interesting logic to share for all potential Lottery winners out there about picking numbers, “A five is cuter than a three, and fours are different.” Keep that in mind next time you play.

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Lotto winners step forward (but decline interviews)
February 5, 2009 12:31 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   WS breaking news

We just got a call from the state lottery office. Someone has claimed the $6.8 million prize we reported on last weekend. The winners are said to be a group of people and we’ll have an interview with the group’s representative this afternoon. The lottery folks say the representative is from West Seattle and that’s why he bought the ticket at the Admiral 7-11. 4:14 PM UPDATE: The representative changed his mind about doing interviews (even by phone) but the lottery reps say there will be more information in a news release … later. We’ll add it when we get it.

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West Seattle biz notes: Chocolate beer, to realty growth, to …
February 5, 2009 11:48 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

CHOCOLATE BEER: Noticed this on the Elliott Bay Brewing blog that’s one of the 100 automatically and continuously tracked by the WSB Blogs page. Seems EBB is pouring a West Seattle-brewed “chocolate porter.”

FEEDBACK LOUNGE: Got an e-mail question about this a little while ago so you might be wondering too. We checked recently with Jeff Gilbert to see about the progress on Feedback Lounge, which is moving into the old Beveridge Place Pub space (between the ex-Corner Inn/future Zeeks Pizza and the “new” BPP). He’s hopeful they’re down to a matter of weeks; you can read more details in this recent update on the Feedback Lounge MySpace site.

REALTY GROWTH: Tough economy for almost everyone, but that’s not keeping local real-estate firms down. We were first to report the Prudential Northwest consolidation into Jefferson Square two weeks ago; today, we got word from John L. Scott/Westwood co-owner Cynthia Reid that their staff has added three new members: Jennifer Cross, Gwen Fraser, and Steve Brissenden. (5:26 PM UPDATE: And two more agents today, they have since written to say: Jan Campbell and Corky Burr.)

AND A WSB REMINDER FOR ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES: Our busy (46,000+ posts) WSB Forums have a West Seattle Jobs Offered section where you can post a job opening FREE. Our only requirements are: (A) The job must be physically located in the West Seattle-White Center area, and (B) the post must be clear WHO is hiring – no blind ads, please. And there’s one other area in the Forums that might be of interest to local businesspeople — Freebies, Deals, Sales is open to anyone to post, FREE, about freebie/bargain offers in the West Seattle area — two ways we’re trying to help youget out information that can help us all make it through tougher-than-usual times.

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