July-August issue 2020

July/August 2020 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY

THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE / HOME & INTERIOR DESIGN / WEST COAST LIVING

Prefab Innovations: Major BeneďŹ ts, Minor Environmental Impact

Staycations - Holidays at Home on the Coast.

Gardening Tips for the Summer + Backyard Chickens How to Hire A Personal Project Manager

T H E W E S T C O A S T ’ S M O S T A N T I C I PAT E D O C E A N F R O N T C O M M U N I T Y

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FROM TH E DESK OF THE PUBLISHER The COVID-19 virus is having a severe impact on all of us, even though, to date, there have only been a few confirmed cases here on the Coast, and relatively few deaths in Canada when compared to our neighbours across the border.

Let’s hope that the infection numbers remain low, and personal health continues to be our top priority. We can all take basic steps to prevent the spread of the disease and reduce our personal risk. Most businesses that are open have adapted measures to protect their staff and customers.

It’s possible that the negative economic impact of COVID-19 will last for many months after the health dangers have passed.

The cancellations of events and concerts are obvious examples, but the impact on our economy will likely have serious and long lasting consequences. Just as we all need to try to protect our personal health, we should all be doing our share to ensure that local businesses recover as quickly as possible too.

The local businesses,shops, service providers and restaurants, that are owned by your friends and neighbours, rely on their customers to stay in business. If this downturn lasts for more than a few more months, some of them will be in serious trouble, and some may not survive at all. They need our support now more than ever. We are a strong community here on the Coast and we can weather this storm as long as we all pull together.

On that note, we are extremely pleased to be back to publishing after having shut down for the May - June issue and we look forward to resuming our regular bi-monthly publication schedule.

Thank you all for your continued support of local journalism and remember be kind, keep well, and keep your distance.

Copyright 2018 by Campaign Media. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without express written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brad Ferguson, publisher@homeonthecoast.ca Contributing Writers Bryan Brasco Angela Koop Russ Qureshi GRAPHIC LAYOUT Jason O’Brian MEDIA SALES advertising@homeonthecoast.ca Distribution Matt Preus For Marketing and Advertising contact advertising@homeonthecoast.ca Printed in Canada on recyclable paper.

Have a great summer!!

Brad Ferguson

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July - August 2020

CONTENTS

8

Your Next Staycation: Exploring Your Own Backyard

12

How to Hire A Personal Project Manager

17

Food Self-Sufficiency: Backyard Chickens

20

5 Essential Summer Gardening Tips for 2020

24

Sunshine Coast Market Update for July 2020

26

Habitat for Humanity Holds Annual AGM via Zoom Container Clinics to the Rescue

27

Prefab Innovations: Major Benefits, Minor Environmental Impact

@Home on the Coast | 6

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@Home on the Coast | 7

Your Next Staycation:

Exploring Your Own Backyard

W

ith the current lockdown on international travel and accompanying lack of tourists on the Coast this summer, now is a great time for locals to visit some of our own spectacular getaways without having to leave home.

eco-adventure holiday experience right here in our own backyard. The Lodge has long been a popular destination for foreign visitors from overseas as well as Canada and the U.S. and is normally booked up far in advance for the summer season.

The ‘West Coast Wilderness Lodge’ at the tip of the Sunshine Coast near Egmont is ideally situated with its close proximity to Vancouver and easy accessibility. With its pristine wilderness setting and biodiverse surroundings, it ranks highly amongst the most spectacular destinations on the planet.

The current global lockdown has created an opportunity for locals to explore a spectacular destination resort without being in breach of the government’s travel restrictions or compromising their family’s safety. The management and long term regular staff are all 100% in compliance with the government’s recommended guidelines and take extra precautionary measures to assure the safety and piece of mind

The Lodge is a luxury wilderness retreat that offers guests a true world class @Home on the Coast | 8

for their guests.

At the heart of the Lodge is the world renowned ‘Inlets Restaurant’.

With a seating capacity of over 150 and spread over 6000 square feet, the restaurant is easily able to accommodate up to 75 diners at a time while still remaining within the recommended social distancing guidelines. Whether it’s your first visit to the Lodge or you are a past guest, you’ll be delighted with the newly revised gourmet menu featuring farm to table fresh local produce and a well curated selection of locally sourced ingredients complimented by an extensive wine list.

By booking your event at the Lodge and reserving the whole property,

you and your party will have complete and private access to all facilities, including the guest lodges,dining room and social lounge, the decks, private beach and forest trails. The Lodge is your private resort to relax, reconnect, and explore.

If you can drag yourself away from the distractions of the spectacular scenery, treating yourself to the fine dining experience of Inlets Restaurant and indulging in the spa like amenities, there are always plenty of activities available at your doorstep.

Through their affiliation with the

‘Egmont Adventure Centre’ they offer a wide range of sight seeing tours as well as water sports activities for the more adventurous. From kayaking and Zodiac excursions, to jet skis and floatplane adventures there are activities for all ages and skill levels.

The West Coast Wilderness Lodge will kick off the summer 2020 season as of June 26th with the return of their long term staff who contribute so much to make your stay a truly memorable experience. @Home on the Coast | 9

Enjoy some ing wonderful …Nature and Adventure

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@Home on the Coast | 11

How to Hire A Personal Project Manager

M

ost new home owners that are considering either building themselves (owner builders) or trying to act as the general contractor by hiring out the necessary trades themselves are usually not familiar with the complex building process involved and with the requirements for permits, infrastructure and overall planning of building a home on budget and on time.

@Home on the Coast | 12

Even relying on an experienced building contractor it is still very much in your interest to have someone with the necessary background in construction to oversee the work. In some cases your architect may take on this function acting as a sort of project manager, however given the hourly cost of a qualified architect this may not be your best option.

Acting as an exclusive representative for the home owner, the ‘personal project manager’ is responsible for overseeing and identifying any potential inefficiencies, cost overruns, unforeseen legalities, and to carry out any other administrative tasks that will reduce risk and better protect the homeowner’s investment.

More recently, an innovative new personalized service being offered by a group of experienced professionals in the building industry is becoming increasingly popular with home owners.

“Construction SpeciFix” is a newly formed company here on the coast that is focused specifically on this niche service. Susan Hildebrand has spent 3 decades in the construction industry as a licensed builder in the commercial,

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Reduce Risk and Maximize Owner Satisfaction

Backed by a team of experienced professionals, our strategic services meet the needs of all types and sizes of projects - from custom homes to large commercial projects - and deliver effective methods with an owner-first approach. Please get in touch with us today to learn how Construction SpeciFix can help your project succeed.

Susan Hildebrand CSP, LEEDAP, GSC Principal

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(604) 240-2113 www.constructionspecifix.ca @Home on the Coast | 13

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residential, and hospitality sectors. Supported by her daughter Nicole’s understanding of the need for effective accurate project specifications and her expertise in quality control and site management, they make a formidable team. With an extensive background as builders themselves they are able to act as an effective liaison between homeowners and the building contractor.

One of the key components of their service is a proprietary ‘ Project Manual’. This individually customized document addresses all the elements that are essential to the success of a project from the initial tender process through completion of the home. The manual covers several areas including types of contracts

between builder and home owner, performance specifications and expectations, checklists to monitor contractor payments as related to work completed, schedule considerations and constraints, sub-contractor and supplier warranties, home warranty requirements etc.

Each Homeowners Project Manual is customized and created specifically for each home.

The benefits of this manual are numerous. Firstly it sets a protocol for the home owner to select a builder using a well defined list of expectations including quality standards. It also forms a contractual document that will help minimize project risks by clarifying the responsibilities of both contractor and homeowner.

Another benefit besides reducing the likelihood of cost overruns, is it creates a level of comfort with the bank or lending institutions and warranty provider knowing that the builder accepts the terms and conditions set forth in the document.

Whether your planning to build your own home or hire a licensed contractor there is a huge advantage to having an understanding of the potential pitfalls, and challenges, and to have a professional in your corner that can save you time, money and avoid potentially stressful mistakes. Remember... an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Visit www.constructionspecifix.ca or call Nicole Hildebrand 604.240.2113 or Susan Hildebrand 604.970.2318 for more details.

@Home on the Coast | 15

@Home on the Coast | 16

Food Self-Sufficiency:

Backyard Chickens

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising chickens has become a fast growing segment of the trend towards self sufficiency in sourcing our food. Here on the Sunshine Coast families are embracing it in a big way.

A

ccording to the folks at Quality Garden & Pet, in Gibson who are a supplier of poultry feed and supplies, the demand has been overwhelming. “Our first order of 400 chicks was sold out immediately and we’ve just ordered 500 more of which almost all are spoken for” says The store manager.

Besides the obvious benefits of a regular supply of farm fresh eggs, chickens can also make great pets and are an excellent way to teach kids about caring for animals. Kids learn everything from care taking responsibility to biology, to math, as well as enjoying a more tangible

connection to food, and the plain old joy of loving animals and pets. Also, many people are concerned about food insecurity, and the farm-to-table element of growing and raising their own food.

Where to Begin

The first step is to have a proper and safe place to keep your chickens. A coop should be a sheltered area with at least two square feet of space per chicken.

Coops should also have easy access to the nesting box for cleaning and removing eggs. The coop enclosure should also be a good size, as chickens @Home on the Coast | 17

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Besides the obvious benefits of a regular supply of farm fresh eggs, chickens can also make great pets and are an excellent way to teach kids about caring for animals. need lots of room to scratch and dust bathe. They will also need an opening and a walkway to get in and out of their coop.

The enclosure should be completely surrounded by heavy wire (two- by four-inch squared), and it’s very important that it is dug underground so predators can’t get in as well as above the enclosure as well to discourage eagles and other birds of prey.

bacterial infections.

Generally speaking upkeep is minimal, and like any other caged animal, they only smell if you don’t clean them. You will need a bale of straw, which is about $15.50 and a bag of shaving for about $11.00 and lasts for about a month or two.

As for feed, chickens require fresh water every day – remember, it may freeze in the winter. It is important to wash the water dispenser every day and some people add a bit of apple cider vinegar to the water to avoid common

A bag of layer feed costs around $19. and can last about 10 birds for more than two months. Based on this and after calculating the cost of raising the chickens, it works out to about $1.35 for a dozen fresh free-range eggs..

Feeding and Care

@Home on the Coast | 19

5 Essential Summer Gardening Tips for 2020

By Angela Koop

As the COVID-19 protocols remain in effect through the summer months, many of us are exploring new and creative ways to spend our abundance of free time. Gardening which has always been a popular pastime here on the Coast is now trending more than ever. From indoor house plants to large outdoor vegetable gardens, people are greening up their homes. Here are a few tips to keep your new plants thriving while keeping you in touch with nature.

@Home on the Coast | 20

1

Watering: This can be a major challenge for plant lovers. The easiest way to tell when your plant needs water is to watch for the leaves to start to wilt. When you see you plant start to droop dig your ďŹ nger into the soil and check to see if you feel moisture. If it feels dry, it is time to water. When you do water give your plant a good thorough soaking. Avoid getting water on the leaves as this can result in fungal problems and spots on the leaves of your plants.

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3 2

Feed your plants: There is a great selection of fertilizers available for your plants. Visit your local garden centre let them know what kind of plant you are wanting to fertilize, and they will match you up with the fertilizer to meet your needs. To fertilize your annuals in the summer months, when they start to get tired looking switch to a water-soluble fertilizer and give them a haircut. This will encourage a second burst of healthy growth that will take you through the remainder of the summer.

4

Prune your plants: If it looks bad cut it off, regardless of the time of year. There is no point in having your plant put energy into a part of the plant that is never coming back. Yes, there are ideal times to prune plants to maintain their shape and healthy growth but if the branch is dead there is no reason to wait.

5

Have fun with your plants: Yes, it is great to do all the research and make sure you are picking the appropriate plant for the right location, but don’t overthink it.Here on the Coast you can grown pretty much everything in a container. So if you are unsure about where to put a plant, put it in a decorative pot which can be easily moved when needed.

Check your plants regularly: Be on the lookout for harmful pests and fungal problems.

The best way to prevent pest damage is to catch it early. Look at the undersides of your leave weekly and do a daily walk through your garden. The earlier you catch the problem the more organically you can resolve the problem. @Home on the Coast | 23

Sunshine Coast Market Update for July 2020

by Russ Qureshi

Despite the hectic month for sales on the Sunshine Coast, the COVID-19 pandemic is showing a pronounced effect on sales across the board.

Let’s see how it breaks out: Detached sales for May are down 42% in dollar volume to $19,000,000, and unit sales dropped 40% to 28 homes sold. You can tell folks are “cocooning” as available inventory is down 29% to 312 units. The sales success ratio is 9% (meaning 9 out of every 100 available properties are selling), putting us in a buyer’s market but very much on the cusp of a balanced market. Looking at the year to date numbers, we are down only 11% in dollar volume to $107,600,00, and the same in unit sales to 150 units sold this year. The average home price remains unchanged at $717,000.

Condos & Town Home sales for May are down 86% in dollar volume to $950,000….unit sales closely match with being down 80% to 3 units sold. Inventory is up 12% to 107 available units.

The sales success ration is 2.5; clearly, the buyers are controlling this segment of the market. Looking at the year to date numbers, we are down 51% in dollar volume to $17,850,000 and down 44% in

unit sales to 37 units sold this year. The average sale price for a condo or townhome is down 12% to $482,000. Look for the year to date numbers to fall further as we are not having the robust presales of some exciting local developments that we had last year.

Land only sales for May, as expected, are down 74% to $1,750,000 in dollar volume. Unit sales tumbled 46% to 7 units sold in May while inventory grew slightly to 227 units. The sales success ratio is 3%. The year to date numbers, we are down 51% to $8,050,000 in dollar volume and down 36% in unit sales to 24 units sold this year.

The average price for a piece of bare land this year is down 23% to $336,000.

Home Buyers: be prepared to make the deal they want now. Beware of waiting for the “bottom to drop out” of the market. I have seen buyers take this attitude at different times over my 17 years in the business, and everyone tends to wait too long, i.e. the market may dip slightly yet, but by this time next year, you’ll wish you bought instead of waiting. Interest rates are even crazier than in previous years–imagine locking in a ten year fixed around 3.5% or a variable at 2.5%.

People ask me what kind of ongoing effect the pandemic will have on the coastal market

The drop in sales was not unexpected as we enter the third month of the pandemic protocols. The detached portion of the market remains strong, and I see no less than a dozen pending sales in our office!

That’s hard to tell. If we see a minimal second wave for the virus, I think we will recover quickly and see minimal slow down in the real estate market. If we experience a pronounced second wave over the summer, with the ongoing relaxation of protocols, then the entire economy will have to readjust, and that will include the real estate market.

Home Sellers: be nimble with decision making and be prepared to negotiate when that offer does come.

For more information, contact your realtor.

For market intelligence, contact Russ or Terri at Coast Lifestyles Network.

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Habitat for Humanity Holds Annual AGM via Zoom

By Brad Ferguson, Board Member/ Treasurer

ON

Monday June 29th the sunshine coast affiliate of Habitat for Humanity held it’s annual general meeting for 2020. The meeting was conducted via zoom with some 20 odd members in attendance.

After updates from Acting ChaIrman David Taylor, Treasurer Brad Ferguson, Secretary John Leech, and CEO Mark Powell, the board nominated and approved the following new board members. Meghan Carter, Richard Hergesheimer, Kelly Kiel, Dr. Marius Welgemoed, and Chris Pallett.

In a bit of shuffling on the executive board,

David Taylor was confirmed as the new Chairman, John Leech assumes the role of Vice- chair, and Brad Ferguson steps down as Treasurer to act as Chairman of the Land and Resources Committee. The newly formed committee will act as a liaison for property developers, donors, and potential joint venture partners. Chris Pallett assumes the role of treasurer, and Meghan Carter takes on the position of secretary.

In a tribute to long standing past board members Laurie Vance and Mat Sadler, acting chairman David Taylor gave a heartfelt thank you from all the board members, volunteers, and members of H4H for their outstanding service and leadership over the past several years. He also threw out a challenge to new board members to live up to the standards of excellence that both Laurie and Mat have established.

I think it’s safe to say that the entire H4H affiliate is excited to welcome the new board members as we continue to move forward with our mandate to supply affordable homes to those in need in our community.

Brad Ferguson adds..While on the subject, I’d like to extend a warm thank you to Iain Palmer, a long time volunteer with Habitat and recently retired chairman of the board.

Thank you for your service Iain.

Container Clinics to the Rescue

Using a shipping container as a medical emergency clinic can provide numerous tangible benefits. Let’s discuss some of the ways that the strengths of containers mesh well with the most common requirements for modular clinics.

Strong: Even smaller 20-foot containers have a payload capacity tens of thousands of pounds. This means that after converting an empty container into a clinic, there is still plenty of excess capacity that can be used for extra equipment and supplies. The cost of moving a container is much more driven by volume than weight (cheaper to move one heavy container rather than two lighter ones of the same size), so you might as well fill it up and provide as many resources to the receiving party as possible!

@Home on the Coast | 26

Durable: Shipping containers are incredibly durable, and that enables them to not only to survive the trip to their destination but also to resist damage from use and abuse while there. It also means it can be moved again and again in the future without incident.

Expandable: If one shipping container is good, two must be better! Thankfully, it’s easy to stack containers or place them adjacent to each other with minimal work. It enables both the location and size of a medical facility to be flexible.

Easily Transportable: Virtually every habitable area on earth not only the capability to receive a shipping container but has a history of doing so previously. The infrastructure to move containers (ships, ports, railcars, trucks, lifts, etc.) exists all over the world. If you want to move something large across countries, a shipping container is one of the best ways to do it. And the fact that you can make the ‘box’ you’re shipping in double as your actual healthcare facility is even better.

Simple to Convert: Creating a structure as strong and durable as a container from scratch would be a difficult task of engineering and manufacturing. Thankfully, all that work is already done for you, leaving the comparatively simple process of converting the empty container into medical space. It’s straightforward enough that a number of volunteer groups (as shown below) have undertaken it successfully.

Size: Shipping containers are big enough to hold multiple people, large medical equipment, and supply storage. And yet, they are small enough to be delivered over most roads without any special accommodations. And if they aren’t the right size, they can be expanded as discussed below.

Speed of Deployment: Thanks to the ease of transport and the size, container clinics can be self-sufficient units that require little setup prior to operations. In most cases, if things like water and electricity hookups are already present, a container clinic could be operational within hours of coming off the delivery truck!

Airtight: As mentioned in the above section under Air Quality, modular clinics often have a medical need for tightly controlling the air supply inside the space. A basic necessity required to achieve that is an airtight building, and containers have this characteristic already (or with minimal modification if it includes small vents on the walls.

Low Cost: Given the benefits they provide, containers are surprisingly affordable. Choosing used containers provides additional savings and some environmental benefits as well.

Prefabricated construction is the practice of assembling a variety of components of a structure at a manufacturing site and transporting those sub-assemblies to the location of the construction jobsite.

Prefab Innovations: Major BeneďŹ ts, Minor Environmental Impact

P

refabricated construction is sometimes thought of as a low-end and mass produced mode of construction.

In reality however, it is quite the opposite. Prefabricated construction is becoming more common, improving in quality and has become available in a variety of budgets. Despite the perception of prefabrication, there are numerous beneďŹ ts to this type of construction.

@Home on the Coast | 27

Prefabrication manufacturers often receive bulk discounts from material suppliers which then trickles down to the cost of a construction project.

Modular construction also sidesteps the possibility of unreliable contractors and unproductive staff. Additionally, the reduction in construction time can significantly save on construction financing costs.

Flexible Design

Eco-Friendly

Cost Savings

Modular construction is often commended for energy efficiency and sustainable construction.

Traditional construction methods require extra materials that lead to increased waste. However, since prefabricated sub-assemblies are constructed in a factory, extra materials can be recycled in-house. This is a considerable improvement over sending waste directly to a landfill from a traditional construction site. Also, the controlled environment of a factory allows for more accurate construction, tighter joints and better air filtration, which in turn allows for better wall insulation and an increase in energy efficiency.

One of the greatest advantages of prefabricated construction would be financial savings.

Although the perception of custom-made pieces may seem expensive, with prefabricated or modular construction, this is not the case. Modular construction targets all budgets and price points, creating an affordable option.

@Home on the Coast | 28

Modular construction can be easily be disassembled and relocated to different sites.

This significantly reduces the demand for raw materials, minimizes expended energy and decreases time overall. Also, modular construction allows for flexibility in the design of the structure allowing for a limitless number of opportunities. Since prefabricated construction units can be used in different spaces, its neutral aesthetics is able to blend in with almost any building type.

productivity, and eliminates unnecessary distractions and interference that are typical of construction sites.

Shorter Construction Time

Consistent Quality

Less Site Disruption

Since prefabricated construction occurs in a controlled manufacturing environment and follows specified standards, the sub-assemblies of the structure will be built to a uniform quality. Construction sitebuilt structures are dependent upon varying skill levels and the schedules of independent contractors. These all contribute to the craftsmanship and overall quality of given structure.

With prefabrication, each sub-assembly is built by an experienced crew in a weatherresistant factory, with multiple quality checks throughout the entire process. Some components of the building are constructed using precise machine equipment to ensure conformity to building code.

Since many components of a building are completed in the factory, there is significantly less truck traffic, equipment and material suppliers around the final construction site.

This limits the disruption of traditional jobsites that suffer from noise, pollution, waste and other common irritants.

This streamlined approach to construction provides a far more efficient atmosphere for

Portable construction takes significantly less time to build than on-site construction. In many instances, prefabrication takes less than half the time when compared to traditional construction. This is due to better upfront planning, elimination of on-site weather factors, subcontractor scheduling delays and quicker fabrication as multiple pieces can be constructed simultaneously. Shorter construction times allows construction companies to take on multiple projects at once, allowing businesses to grow rather than putting all their focus and resources on one or a few projects at a time.

@Home on the Coast | 29

The Kenai (7-3-1012)

WIDTH:

PLAN OF THE MONTH | JULY 2020

39 | DEPTH: 59 | MAIN FLOOR: 1171 | UPPER FLOOR: 999 | TOTAL LIVING AREA: 2170 | ENTRY / PORCH: 161 | GARAGE: 408 | TOTAL AREA: 2739 MAIN FLOOR

UPPER FLOOR

604.989.8184

EmeraldForestHomes.ca info@EmeraldForestHomes.ca

Planning to build?

View the hundreds of plans and designs on our website to get started. linwoodhomes.com @Home on the Coast | 30

In Conclusion

Safety on the Job Site Since sub-assemblies are created in a factory-controlled environment utilizing dry materials, there is less risk for problems associated with moisture, environmental hazards and dirt. This ensures that those on the construction site, as well as a project’s eventual tenants are less likely to be exposed to weather-related health risks.

Also, an indoor construction environment presents considerably

fewer risks for accidents and other liabilities. There are strict factory processes and procedures that protect the worker from on-thejob injury. At a construction site, although safety is of utmost importance, workers are subjected to weather-related conditions, changing ground conditions, wind and other crew members who are at the site.

With the continued popularity of prefabricated construction, it is likely that it will only continue to grow in popularity. Customers who choose this option are able to enjoy a high quality, quicker, cost-effective, and eco-friendly construction method. Furthermore, construction companies may soon increase their investment in modular construction processes, beneďŹ ting both their business and customer relationships.

Prefabricated construction is proving to be an extremely viable option, and as manufacturing technology continues to improve, expect to see its beneďŹ ts and advantages rise in the future.

Customers who choose prefab are able to enjoy a high quality, quicker, costeffective, and eco-friendly construction method. @Home on the Coast | 31

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