r e m Sum
Things to do in Greater Cooperstown
Dreams ►
Thursday, August 8, 2019
► TAKE TRIP DOWN
MEMORY LANE TO UNADILLA DRIVE-IN /pg. 3
IA E WIL
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Cooperstown’s Newspaper
OUNDED
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& The Otsego-Delaware Dispatch
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1808 BY
ONEONTA
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IN
HOMETOWN
O M C O PE
inside: WHERE TO SEE MOVIES IN OTSEGO COUNTY
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►
For 211 Years
AllOTSEGO.com
21 Railroad Ave., Cooperstown, NY 13326 • 607-547-6103 • info@allotsego.com
Thursday, August 8, 2019
B-2 Summer Dreams
Dramatic Arts Rule At Renaissance Fair, ‘Our Town’, More
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ords and ladies fair are invited to attend the 11th annual Medieval Renaissance Fair, where Celtic dancers, magicians and more will perform throughout the day. Food, vendors and a Chinese auction – and make sure to come in costume! $5. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 10-11, Windfall
Dutch Barn, 2009 Clinton Road Cherry Valley. Info 518-993-2239 • Kids can learn for themselves what life was like in the old days as Hanford Mills Museum hosts a day of hands-on, family-friendly activities. Enjoy family concert by Dave Ruch featuring sing-a-longs,
movement songs, more. 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Hanford Mills Museum, 51 Co. Hwy. 12, East Meredith. 607-278-5744. • The Glimmer Globe Theatre continues its production of Thornton Wilder’s classic, “Our Town.” 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater, Fenimore
Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400. • The hands-on fun continues as Shannon Delany hosts “On Paper Wings: Building Paper things Birds Workshop” to do! to create multidimensional birds on a background that can be put in a shadowbox frame. Cost, $67/members, $75/non-member. 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Fenimore LIBBY Art Museum, CUDMORE Cooperstown. 607-547-1400. • Oneonta’s poet Gianluca Avanzato reads from his debut collection “City of the Hills,” with signing to follow. 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Stella Luna Ristorante, 58-60 Market St., Oneonta. 607-433-7646. • Enjoy a free chamber music concert by Glimmerglass Festival Musicians. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, Pierstown Grange Hall, 137 Wedderspoon Hollow Road, Cooperstown. 607-264-3069.
• Learn how time and the elements have shaped the land of Otsquago Creek with a Geology Walk lead by Dr. Les Hasbargen, Geology professor at SUNY Oneonta. 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, Robert Woodruff Learning Center Owen D. Young Central School, St. Rt. 80, Van Hornesville. 607-282-4087. • The Franklin Stage company also has an opening this week, “Billy Bishop Goes To War.” Set in 1914, follows journey of underachiever who becomes great fighter pilot. Free admission. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 9-10, 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute St., Franklin. 607-829-3700.
►ON THE COVER Unadilla Drive-In Manager Spencer Wilson oversees Jorgia Roefs, left, and Natasha Wilson, working the snack bar.
11th AnnuAL WinDFALL DutCh BArn
Crafters • Vendors Games for the Kids Chinese Auction Live Music Celtic Dancers Magic Show Puppet Show
Food by Buccaneer BBQ
August 10 & 11 · 11 am-5 pm $5 admission · Children 12 & under free!
We welcome everyone to come in period costume!
Windfall Dutch Barn
2009 Clinton Road · Fort Plain · 518-993-2239 · kmacgreg@roadrunner.com
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Summer Dreams B-3
FROM OLDIES TO CURRENT RELEASES
Ian Austin/Summer Dreams
Spencer Wilson, Unadilla Drive-In manager, points movie-goers to where the action is.
At Unadilla Drive-In:
Those Crazy Days Of Summer Will Always Be There drive-in. “I was never in it to get rich,” he said. “I used to go there as a kid, and I wanted to make sure it UNADILLA was preserved.” And preserved it is. ric Wilson was not about to “The first year we screened see a piece of his childhood ‘Runaway Bride’” – the 1999 Julia leveled. Roberts/Richard Gere vehicle that “I was at my men’s group and one critics generally panned – “and even of the members was a realtor,” he though it was raining, 377 people said. “I saw he had showed up,” said the Unadilla Drive-In Eric. “I knew we listing, and someone had something never wanted said that it might be special.” to get rich. bought and The drive-in I used to go torn down.” was originally there as a kid, and With his wife, opened in 1956 Marcia, and his by John Gardner I just wanted to make friend Jack George, Al LaFamme. sure it was preserved.” and who owned a sucMichael and ERIC WILSON cessful leather busiBeatrice Chonka Unadilla Drive-In Owner ness in New Jersey, Please See Wilson bought the FLICKS, Pg. 5 By LIBBY CUDMORE
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B-4 Summer Dreams
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Tomato Cream Sauce? Yum! And Mel’s Reuben? Double Yum!
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ecently, my family went to Bella Michael’s for dinner without me, but my husband promised he would bring me something from there. That something turned out to be Bella Michael’s very appropriately named “Chicken Fantasia,” grilled chicken breast topped with a tomato cream sauce, roasted
red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes, all topped with Swiss cheese. It came with sides of spaghetti, salad and dinner roll. I love pretty much any kind of cream sauce, but tomato cream sauce ranks way up there. It was definitely the crème de la crème of this dish, but the peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and
Swiss cheese all brought it to “Fantasia” level. Having lived in Louisiana for six years, I plan to try the special Cajun crabmeat sauce with my pasta for my next meal there, but I’m circling back to Fantasia for the meal after that one. Bella Michael’s is on the pricey side, but very much worth the splurge. Your
taste buds will thank you. (Bella Michaels, 57 River St, Oneonta) JENNIFER HILL Staff Reporter
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el’s at 22 is here to stay! There have been so many restaurants on the corner of Main and Chestnut in Cooperstown that have come and gone, but Mel’s ...and Mel’s also includes serves quality food at outdoor dining. good prices with a nice atmosphere … ome say it’s the water a combination of a that makes Upstate restaurant that will be NY pizza as delicious here for many years! as it is. Maybe it’s that we A Reuben is a Rueben go heavy on the is a Rueben, right? FINE DINING, cheese and stay Not so at Mel’s. FUN DINING away from overly First, it’s Mel’s own corned beef, STAFF PICKS sweet sauce. Whatever it is, topped with Sal’s in Oneonta imported Swiss puts it all together to slice and sauerkraut, then up an oversized piece of Thousand Island dressing. I’m a bread freak, but not heaven, served city-style on so much a rye bread fan, so I a paper plate with a fountain had it on a Heidelberg bread soda, just the way it should be. There’s nothing fancy ciabatta that was fresh, about Sal’s, but with the big grilled panini-style and all front window and the cheery of the goodness melded lighting, it’s like a beacon together. Served with the in the night after a long day. village’s best French fries You can get a simple cheese and you’ve got me coming back for more! (Mel’s at 22, slice or go crazy and get one loaded up with chicken, 22 Chestnut St., Cooperbacon and ranch! It’s all stown) TARA BARNWELL delicious. Please See FOOD, Pg. 6 General Manager
S
ADMISSION-FREE
AUGUST 9–25
Billy Bishop Goes to War
“an incredible story of bravery, courage and survival.” –Broadway World
25 Institute Street, Franklin, NY
/FranklinStage
RESERVE NOW! FranklinStageCompany.org
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Summer Dreams B-5
From Yesterday’s ‘Runaway Bride’ To Today’s ‘Once Upon...’ FLICKS/From Pg. 3 ran it through the ’70s and ’80s. They sold it to Trevor Ladner and Thomas Owens, who sold it to the Wilsons. All of their kids – Spencer, Austin, Tara and Onilee – worked for the business, and now, Spencer is the manager. “I remember being there as a little kid in the ticket booth!” he said. At one time, there were
two drive-ins in Otsego County, the other being the Del-Sego, where Brooks BBQ got its start selling their famous chicken at the snack bar. The Wilsons made sure that the Unadilla remained a summer staple for families looking for budget-friendly entertainment, screening firstrun movies Thursday-Sunday from May to September.
The movies start at dusk, and for $8 (adults) and $5 (kids) visitors can see two films – if they can stay awake long enough. “On an average night, we have between 300 and 500 people,” said Spencer. “We had ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Toy Story 4’ a few weeks ago, and we had 1,200 people there.” “For both ‘Indiana Jones 4’
and ‘Jurassic World’ we had cars lined up to the bridge,” said Eric. “We were completely sold out. Those are good drive-in movies.” Since taking ownership, the family upgraded the theater considerably. “We fixed all the standing speakers when we first bought it, but people kept driving off with them and pulling them out of the ground!” said Eric. The 2006 flood destroyed the free-standing speakers, and an FM transmitter was put in. Shortly thereafter, a windstorm took down the screen, requiring a replacement. “My dad and his buddies fixed it,” said Ian Austin/Summer Dreams Spencer. “They’re conAt the Unadilla, the tractors, but it was still an candy’s cheap, there’s real butter on the expensive upgrade!” The most recent upgrade popcorn – and you can bring your own food. has been the switch to a digital projector. “It’s been Tarantino flick that pairs great,” he said. “There are Leonardo DiCaprio and so many ways a film can go Brad Pitt, and revisits the wrong, but with this you just Manson murders. download and press play.” But one of the biggest They’ve always shown draws, said Spencer, is the double features, and because snack bar. “People tell us families are their target they come out just to have audience, they rarely screen dinner,” he said. “Our candy R-rated movies, although is cheaper than many places, this year has had two noor we let people bring their table exceptions. “We did own food in.” our first triple feature,” said However, you may still Spencer. “’The Secret Life want to save room for their of Pets 2,’ ‘A Dog’s Journey’ famous popcorn. “We use and ‘John Wick 3’.” real butter,” he said. “Not “Next week,” Eric said, that fake stuff.” “this year’s new Quentin ►ALSO AT THE MOVIES: Otsego County’s other movie
venue is Southside Cinemas at Southside Mall, Route 23, Oneonta. Details at www.southside.zurichcinemas.com/
Ingalls Blueberry Hill OPEN for PICKING! And the Picking is GOOD!!! CERTIFIED ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES!
Cooperstown off of Route 28 • 607-547-2600
_________ Send calendar items to info@allotsego.com
B-6 Summer Dreams
Wash House Or One Stop? FOOD/From Pg. 4 Don’t sleep on the wings either – their garlic parmesan wings are so heavy with the good stuff that you need a dozen napkins – one for each bite! (Sal’s Pizzeria, 285 S. Main St., Oneonta) LIBBY CUDMORE Managing Editor
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ocal favorite Pop’s Place is best known for its ice cream, but that’s not all it sells. Order up Pop’s Big Burger and enjoy a delicious burger that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. The two patties of juicy hamburger, each with a single slice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and two slices of bacon combine for a satisfyingly delicious meal that doesn’t fall apart on the first bite. (Pop’s Place, 4347 NY-28, Milford) LARISSA RYAN Office Manager
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f you like great sandwiches with weird names, then Undercover Eggplant is the place for you! Painted in purple and green in Oneonta’s West End, this sandwich shop
Sign Up NoW!
quickly became a favorite with locals and visitors alike. Homemade breads, quality ingredients and creative combinations of flavor and texture help make every sandwich on their menu a winner. Whether you are looking for a sandwich piled with meats (The Wash House) or a vegetarian option sure to fill you up (The Eggplant Special), the Undercover Eggplant is sure to have your new favorite sandwich nestled between two slices of their homemade bread. Personal favorites include The One Stop, a breaded chicken breast with melted mozzarella, red onion, pesto mayo and artichoke hearts, or The Hertha Winch, which features chicken breast, pepperoni, melted mozzarella and cajun Mayo. Also check out their large list of seasonal specialty sandwiches, which will all be on the wall where you go to order. (Undercover Eggplant, 421 Chestnut St. Oneonta) IAN AUSTIN Staff Photographer
The Decker
Summer fun fall
Classes
School BalleT
of
Fall claSS reGISTraTIoN Aug. 19, 20 and 21 - 11 am-3 pm Sept. 4 to 6 - 2 pm-6 pm Ballet for ages 3 and older - preschool through advanced Join us for these and other classes: Ballet, Piyo and Contemporary
Register Aug. 19, and we will donate $10 from your first month’s tition to Super Heroes in Ripped Jeans
Studio Opens September 9 www.deckerschoolofballet.org 140 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820 607-432-6290 • Like us on facebook
_______ what’s fun in OtsegO COunty
►THURSday, AUGUST 8 GOLF TOURNAMENT – 11:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce 33rd Annual Golf Tournament featuring contests, prizes, more. $100$2000. Oneonta Country Club, 9 Country Club Rd, Oneonta. 607-432-4500. CONCERT – 2 p.m. Base-
ball themed concert “Perfect Pitch” features songs on playing, loving baseball. Included in museum admission. Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607-547-7200. MUSIC – 6 - 8 p.m. Open Mic followed by performance by duo “Polish Moses.” Free, open to public. Community Arts Network of Oneonta,
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Wilber Mansion, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-432-2070. SUMMER CONCERT – 7 p.m. Musical performance by Leatherstocking Jazz Band. Bandstand near Hodges Pond, Neahwa Park, Oneonta. 607-432-7997.
►FRIday, AUGUST 9 BLOOD DRIVE – 1 - 6 p.m. Give blood, save a life with American Red Cross. Walk-ins welcome. Get free admission to Museum. Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown. 607547-7200. MORE CALENDAR, Pg. 7
_________ Send calendar items to info@allotsego.com
Thursday, August 8, 2019
_______
Summer Dreams B-7
The
Herkimer County
Fair Wednesday, August 14 Shania Twin (Donna Huber) 7:30 and 9:30 pm
Thursday, August 15 Rylee Lum 7:30 and 9:30 pm
Saturday, August 17 Grit-N-Whiskey 7:30 and 9:30 pm
Sunday, August 18 JD and Rollin South 7:30 and 9:30 pm
august 13 to 18
2019 FrankFort, nY
Friday, August 16 Chris Woodward 7:30 and 9:30 pm
Daily shows:
Dino Trail • First Bite Fishing Milky way Farm adventure First Bite Fishing • Pork Chop Revue agricultural Events
sPECial EVENTs:
Junior/little Miss & Mister Pageant: 8/13 - 6:30pm Queen, Princess & Prince Pageant: 8/13 - 8:30pm Demolition Derby: 8/15 & 16 - 7pm Truck Pull: 8/17 - 3-5pm • Tractor Pull: 8/18 - 11am youth & open horse show: 8/17 & 18 - 9am Check website for complete event schedule
www.herkimercountyfair.org
what’s fun in OtsegO COunty
FROM Pg. 6
►FRIday, AUGUST 9
RIBBON CUTTING – 2 - 4 p.m. Bright Hill Community Library proudly joins 4 County Library System. Bright Hill Press & Literary Center, 94 Church St., Treadwell. 607829-5055. MAKERSPACE – 3:30 p.m. Bring the kids to make Melty Perler Beads. Free, children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Arkell Museum, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie. 518-673-2314 ext. 113. AWARDS PARTY – 5:30 p.m. Celebrate end of summer reading program, featuring petting zoo, free ice cream, announcing winners of the lego challenge, guessing jar, coloring contest, more. Huntington Memorial Library, 62 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-432-1980. FINALE – 6 - 7 p.m. Celebrate final weekend of art show “Heartbeat Music Wave and the Protectors” by artist Clytie McNulty Czapsky. Features music by John Colonna. Dunderberg Gallery, 118 Marion Ave., Gilbertsville. 607-783-2010. THEATER – 7 p.m. Classic metatheatrical play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder portrays everyday live of residents of the fictional Grover’s Corner. Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater, Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607547-1400. THEATER – 7:30 p.m. Performance “Billy Bishop Goes To War.” Set in 1914, follows journey of underachieving Billy Bishop on his journey to become a great fighter pilot. Explores complexities of heroism, cost of war, Britain’s colonial past. Free admission. Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute St., Franklin. 607829-3700.
►SATURday, AUGUST 10 FAMILY SATURDAY – 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bring kids for fun tour featuring hands-on activities. Enjoy family concert by Dave Ruch featuring singa-longs, movement songs,. Hanford Mills Museum, 51 Co.
Hwy. 12, East Meredith. 607-278-5744. PAWSITIVE PAWSIBILITIES – Noon - 2 p.m. Meet adoptable pets from Susquehanna SPCA. Front Lobby, Oneonta YMCA, 20-26 Ford Ave., Oneonta. 607-547-8111. ART WORKSHOP – 1 - 5 p.m. “On Paper Wings: Building Paper Birds Workshop” led by Shannon Delany. Learn to use basic paper cutting/folding techniques to create a multidimensional bird on a background that can be put in a shadowbox frame. Cost, $75/non-member. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400. FOLK MUSIK – 2 p.m. 60minute educational concert that takes children on a tour of American roots music. Admission by donation. Registration not required. West Kortright Centre, 49 W. Kortright Church Rd., East Meredith. THEATER – 3 & 7:30 p.m. Performance “Billy Bishop Goes To War.” See Friday Listing. READING – 3 - 4 p.m. Live reading, book signing of “City of the Hills” by Gianluca Avanzato. Light appetizers, cash bar, books available for purchase. Stella Luna Ristorante, 58-60 Market St., Oneonta. 607-433-7646. GALLERY RECEPTION – 5:30 p.m. Celebrate group photography show “White House.” Free, includes light refreshments. West Kortright Centre, 49 W. Kortright Church Rd., East Meredith. 607-2785454. FILM – 6:30 p.m. Visit Herb Ritts exhibit then enjoy film, starting at 7, connected to exhibit with introduction. This week “Burlesque”, a backstage musical film starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. (2010, PG-13). Fenimore Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400. COMMUNITY POTLUCK – 7 p.m. Celebrate summer, community, Bring dish to pass, enjoy food from your neighbors. Drinks/dinnerware provided. Fly Creek United Methodist Church, 852 Co. Rt. 26, Fly Creek. 607-547-9946. MORE CALENDAR Pg. 8
B-8 Summer Dreams FROM Pg. 7
►sUNday, AUGUST 11 MUSIC – 11 a.m. Rickety Fence Trio perform Folk, Rock and Americana inspired by artists such as the Grateful Dead, others. Franklin Farmers’ Market, 25 Institute St., Franklin. 607-829-2672. GEOLOGY WALK – 1 - 3 p.m. Learn how time, elements have shaped the land of Otsquago Creek with SUNY Oneonta Geology Professor. Robert Woodruff Learning Center, Owen D. Young Central School,
_________
Thursday, August 8, 2019
St. Rt. 80, Van Hornesville. 607-282-4087. SUNDAY SERIES – 1 - 3 p.m. Jim Loudon presents “Influence of the Railroad on SW.” Swart-Wilcox House Museum, Wilcox Ave., Oneonta. 607-2877011. SUMMER CELEBRATION – 3 - 7 p.m. Celebrate summer at waterfront with OPA. Enjoy BBQ, bring dish to share. Be prepared for swimming, outdoor games, other park activities. Gilbert Lake State Park, Mount Vision. 607-386-1508. CONCERT – 4 p.m. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine presents
A complete guide to
what’s fun in OtsegO COunty _________
classical program based on America’s Folk Music Roots. The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450. THEATER – 5 p.m. Performance “Billy Bishop Goes To War.” See Friday Listing. CONCERT – 7:30 p.m. Performance by Ensembles Large Send calendar items to info@allotsego.com & Small - Musicians Choice. Features solos, duets, trios, or even a full orchestra with Glim►monday, AUGUST 12 History.” Discuss baseball, merglass Festival Musicians. ask questions, get your book Expect surprises. Cost, $15/ signed. Included with Museum SCREENING – 6:30 p.m. See person. The Star Theater, The in OtsegO COunty Bullpen Theater, Oneonta’s Ninja Warrior com- admission. Foundry, 44 Main St., Cherry Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperpete in Baltimore City Finals on Valley. the big screen. Features door stown. 607-547-7200. AFTERNOON ART – 2 p.m. prizes, mini obstacles, refreshChildren pre-K+ learn about ments. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431- artist/art style, then practice. This week kids work with 2080. Watercolors on Seed Paper. CHAMBER MUSIC – 7:30 Adult supervision required for p.m. Glimmerglass Festival children under 10. Free. Arkell Musicians perform chamber music concert. Free, temporar- Museum, 2 Erie Blvd., Canajoily not handicapped accessible. harie. AFTERNOON ART – 3 - 4 Pierstown Grange Hall, 137 Wedderspoon Hollow Rd., Coo- p.m. Drop in art class for ages 4-8. Features visit to exhibit, perstown. 607-264-3069. storybook reading, hands-on ►Tuesday, AUGUST 13 take-home art project. This week, kids make folk art shop sign for bedroom door. Cost, KNITTERS GROUP – 1:30 3:30 p.m. Join knit-wits to work $5 at door. Fenimore Art Museum, Coopersotwn, 607-547on current projects. Cooperstown Village Library. 607-547- 1400. DISCUSSION GROUP – 3 - 5 8344. GLIMMERGLASS CONCERT p.m. Come together and discuss current events. Cooper– 7 p.m. Performance by stown Village Library. 607-547Glimmerglass Festival Young 8344. Artists. Includes works in opGARDEN TOUR – 5:30 p.m. era, musical theater. Gazebo, Learn how gardening has Huntington Park, Oneonta. evolved over time, identify the 607-432-1980 ext. 20. CONCERT – 7 p.m. Coopers- myriad flowering plants with town Lakefront Concert Series Pat Thorpe, horticulturalist. presents Marc Black, perform- Brookwood Point, 6000 St. Hwy. 80, Cooperstown. 607ing finger-style blues in tradi547-2366 ext. 108. tion of Mississippi John Hurt. CHOP & CHEESE – 6 - 8 p.m. Bring chairs, picnic and relax in Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. Chop down our areas most aggressive terrestrial invasive plant, Japanese Knotwood, ►wed., AUGUST 14 then enjoy cheese & crackers, light refreshments overlooking BASEBALL AUTHOR – 1 p.m. Reading by Brian Wright, Otsego Lake. Mohican Farm, 7207 St. Hwy. 80, Cooperauthor “Mets in 10s: The Best and Worst of an Amazin’ stown. 607-282-4087.
what’s fun _______
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