BRUSH FIRE CLOSES STATE ROUTE 67 BOTH DIRECTIONS

East County News Service


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DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: MIDSUMMER FUN

By Miriam Raftery

July 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – As the weather heats up,  late July has many cool events including visits to the new Camel Lavender Farm in Ramona, Music on Main in El Cajon, Cajon Cruises, Movies at county parks and recreation centers, La Mesa’s Sundays at Six concerts and classic car shows, outdoor concerts in Santee and Lemon Grove, concerts by a lazy river at Sycan, tribute band concerts at The Magnolia in El Cajon, as well as outdoor concerts at Viejas.

Scroll down for details on these sizzling midsummer events.


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MEMORY WEAVERS: AWARD-WINNING NOVEL OF TWO WOMEN BONDED BY TRAUMAS

By Muffy Walker

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

San Diego resident, Muffy Walker celebrates the release of her debut novel, Dream Weavers. The book has received the Firebird Book Award, the Literary Titan Silver Book Award, the Hawthorne Prize, and was selected as finalist for the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the Women's Fiction category.

Rachel, in her early twenties, was raped in her college dorm. Traumatized, she quit college. At age 28, she continued to suffer from panic attacks and sometimes hallucinated a replay of her rape.

Hadley, in her forties, has three children and a loving husband. Unfortunately, she has a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s.


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COUNTY WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS

 
By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
July 16, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The County of San Diego has been honored with 51 Achievement Awards for programs it provides to the public by the National Association of Counties, which recognizes standout county government programs.
 
The County received awards in 15 categories for programs that run the gamut of the services the County provides from law enforcement to health services, to land use, including the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan.
 

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LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RENOVATIONS FOR GROSSMONT CENTER

By Paul Levikow

July 15, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Center shopping mall is in for some major renovations, after the La Mesa City Council unanimously approved the first phase of the new design at its July 8 meeting.

Phase 1 focuses on storefronts between the two anchor stores, Target and Walmart with a new, modern design theme with updated materials, colors, and architectural features. The central plaza will be renovated with outdoor seating, shade structures, lighting, a fountain, and a community gathering space. Landscaping upgrades are also planned with 30 new trees and low-water native plants. In addition, there will be improvements to sidewalks and ADA handicap access. Energy-efficient and safety-conscious design elements, including improved lighting and security bollards will be implemented.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

July 16, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S. 

Detentions

Other national issues

WORLD

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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SAN DIEGO NAMED CANDIDATE HOST CITY FOR INVICTUS GAMES 2029

East County News Service
 
July 15, 2024 (San Diego County) -- San Diego has been named one of six global finalists for host city of the Invictus Games 2029.
 
San Diego is only the second American city ever to host the international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
 
The official announcement by The Invictus Games Foundation marks a major milestone for the region’s efforts to bring the Games back to the United States for only the second time since its inception in 2014.
 
San Diego’s bid was championed by the City of San Diego and the British American Business Council San Diego. It aims to showcase the city as a global leader in veteran wellness, recovery and mental fitness.

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STATE PARKS PHOTO CONTEST RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 30

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman
 
East County News Service
 
July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.
 
The California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest is now open for submissions and runs through September 30, 2025.
 
San Diego County has more than a dozen state parks, including Anza Borrego Desert, Cuyamaca Rancho, Palomar Mountain and several state beaches — including Carlsbad State Beach, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla, Border Field State Park Beach in Imperial Beach and Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado.
 

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GROCERY WORKERS AT RALPHS, ALBERTSONS, VONS, AND PAVILIONS VOTE TO RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS

East County News Service

Image via UFCW San Diego's Facebook page

July 14, 2025 (San Diego) --Grocery members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428, and 1442 voted this week overwhelmingly to ratify new three-year agreements with Ralphs (a subsidiary of Kroger) and Albertsons (which includes Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions).

The union local members had previously voted to authorize a strike, after months of  tense negotiations and member-driven actions in a strong show of unity and determination from more than 45,000 essential grocery workers across Southern California.


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

July 15, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down


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SUNCREST TRUCK TRAIL NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR FIRE EVACUATION ROUTE IN CREST, ACCORDING TO FIRE OFFICIALS

Fire officials announce other upgrades in fire protection for Crest

By Paul Levikow

July 14, 2025 (Crest) – For years, Crest residents have asked the County to create an additional evacuation route on Suncrest Truck Trail to protect residents in the rural community that was devasted in the 2003 Cedar Fire.  In response to a reader’s request, ECM looked into the matter. 

While officials from the County and Cal Fire say Suncrest Truck Trail is not a viable option for several reasons, many other steps are being taken to improve fire safety for Crest.


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DEAF MONGOLIAN IMMIGRANT HELD BY ICE IN OTAY MESA FOR MONTHS WITHOUT ACCESS TO INTERPRETER

The Otay Mesa Detention Center operated by CoreCivic. (Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)
 
By Wendy Fry, CalMatters
 
July 14, 2025 (San Diego County) -- A deaf Mongolian man has spent more than four months in a Southern California immigrant detention center without the opportunity to communicate with anyone who understands Mongolian Sign Language, according to his civil rights attorney. 
 
“He’s basically been in solitary confinement because he has not had one person actually speak to him in Mongolian Sign Language for the entirety of the time that he’s been in proceedings and detained,” said his attorney, Alegría De La Cruz, director of litigation for the Disability Rights Legal Center.
 
U.S. Southern District of California Judge Dana Sabraw this week ordered officials at the Otay Mesa Detention Center to provide him with a Mongolian Sign Language interpreter. 

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ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: INSIDE THE BINGE AND UNDERAGE DRINKING INITIATIVE’S 2025 ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FOR COUNTY

 
By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies
 
July 1, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Community leaders, prevention experts, and local advocates came together at Singing Hills Golf Club in El Cajon recently to talk about the realities of alcohol misuse in our neighborhoods.
 
The San Diego County Binge and Underage Drinking Initiative (BUDI) released its 2025 Annual Status Report over lunch, and the data was a lot to digest.
 
Angelica Raya, Program Manager for BUDI, and epidemiologist Carol Manisouk from the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services Department kicked off the presentation.
 

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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

July 14, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

SCIENCE AND TECH

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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WALMART RECALLING OZARK STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLES

East County News Services
 
July 13, 2025 (San Diego County) -- Walmart stores are recalling metal water bottles that can cause blindness when lids snap up.
 
The retailer recalled the Ozark Trail 64‑oz stainless steel insulated water bottle after lid incidents left two consumers blind.
 
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Walmart has issued a nationwide recall of approximately 850,000 Ozark Trail 64-ounce water bottles, after reports that a defect in their screw‑cap lids has caused serious injuries.
 
The silver bottles, sold since 2017 at Walmart stores and online for about $15 with packaging showing model number 83-662, feature a black screw‑on cap and the Ozark Trail logo engraved on the side. 
 
The CPSC reports that when the bottle is used to store food, carbonated beverages or perishable drinks like milk or juice for an extended period of time, pressure may build up inside and when the user opens the bottle, its cap can forcefully eject, striking the person in the face, the impact causing laceration injuries. 

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SDSU SWIM & DIVE EARNS 7 SCHOLAR/ALL-AMERICA HONORS

Aztecs also named a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team for 19th consecutive semester
 
East County News Services
 
July 15, 2025 (San Diego) -- Seven student-athletes from the San Diego State University swim and dive program were named College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of AmericaScholar All-Americans for the 2024-25 campaign, as announced earlier this month by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.
 
Valentina Lopez Arevalo earned first-team CSCAA Scholar All-America honors, while Wilma Johansson, Alex Roberts, Alina Skrocki, Meredith Smithbaker, Summer Westmoreland and Christiana Williams received second-team nods.
 
Eligible candidates for CSCAA Scholar All-America awards must maintain a 3.50 grade point average or higher, with first-team honorees competing at their national championship meet, while second-team selections must have recorded a “B” cut time standard for their national championship or qualified for a zone diving competition.

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SANDAG LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT; ZOOM MEETING ON JULY 16

East County News Services
 
July 13, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego Association of Governments is hosting a special online presentation/feedback session on the 2025 Regional Plan for unincorporated communities in San Diego County.
 
The meeting will be held via Zoom from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 16. Register here.
The regional plan can be founder here.
To comment on the plan, visit here.
 
SANDAG's 2025 Regional Plan aims to enhance mobility and equity in unincorporated San Diego County through expanded rural transit service, microtransit shuttle zones and vanpool programs. 
 
The Draft 2025 Plan is to be funded at approximately $126 billion, with a new funding strategy more streamlined than previous versions.
 
With a strong emphasis on social equity and community feedback, investments are being prioritized in faster-to-deploy solutions rather than major new rail projects — especially in light of funding constraints following the defeat of Measure G.
 
Measure G, the San Diego County ballot initiative that would have added a half-cent sales tax to fund regional transportation and infrastructure, was narrowly rejected by voters, with 688,922 yes votes (49.54%) and 701,639 no votes (50.46%).

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RESIDENTS URGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BAN SALE OF ALL ANIMALS IN LEMON GROVE


Story and photo by Jennifer Sencion

 

July 13, 2025 (Lemon Grove) —  Dozens of concerned residents and animal advocates spoke at the Lemon Grove City Council meeting Tuesday night to demand a citywide ban on the retail sale of all animals.

 

Sixteen of the nearly 20 speakers urged Councilmembers to expand on California Assembly Bill 485, which already prohibits the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail stores, to include all animals in the ban.

 

Much of the concerns centered on Lemon Grove Pet Supplies and Exotics, a pet store located on Main Street that has been in business for over a decade. Many of the speakers shared personal experiences at the shop, ranging from witnessing unsanitary conditions to finding deceased animals. 


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LA MESA BECOMES FIRST LOCAL CITY CERTIFIED AS AGE-FRIENDLY EMPLOYER, HELPING JOB SEEKERS AGE 50 AND UP

East County News Service

July 13, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has been designated as a Certified Age-Friendly Employer (CAFE) by the Age-Friendly Institute, becoming the first municipal government in San Diego County to receive the CAFE seal.

This recognition highlights the City’s commitment to inclusive hiring practices and support for a multigenerational workforce. The City maintains recruitment and retention strategies that embrace the strengths of seasoned professionals including reducing turnover, retaining institutional knowledge, and enhancing customer service.

“La Mesa is proud to be recognized as a workplace that values experience,” said Mayor Mark Arapostathis. “Many of our employees have served this community for decades. Their knowledge, dedication, and perspective are essential to delivering the high-quality services our residents expect.”


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YOU'RE INVITED! JULY 17 FEAST AT HIMALAYAN CUISINE IN LA MESA WITH EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE'S DINING CLUB

You’re invited to East County Magazine' s DIning Club feast at Himalayan Cuisine in La Mesa on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m.  All proceeds benefit our local news reporting and our wildfire and emergency alerts! Everyone is welcome to attend.

Himalayan Cuisine features delicious cuisine from Nepal, Tibet and India.  Plus we'll have a fabulous raffle with many great prizes including gift certificates to local stores and restaurants, a Himalayan salt lamp, wine lovers gifts, books, an Oriental-style rug, and more.

RSVP’s are required no later than July 14, but if you RSVP before July 10 you’ll be entered in a special prize drawing!

Please RSVP to:  info@eastcountymedia.org with your name, the number in our party, and “RSVP Himalayan” in the subject line.


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LA MESA GRANDMOTHER DETAINED BY ICE WHILE SERVING AS LEGAL OBSERVER FOR IMMIGRANTS AT COURTHOUSE

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Barbara Stone, a 71-year old U.S. citizen and courthouse observer at immigration proceedings,  is free tonight after being detained by Immigrants and Customs agents (ICE) for eight hours without access to an attorney, according to her daughter and witnesses.

Jessica Kort, posted a plea for help after the detention:  “My mom, Barbara Stone, has been volunteering as a legal observer at the San Diego Edward J. Schwarz Federal Building courthouse to support immigrants at risk of detention, bear witness to and ensure procedural accountability as ICE detains individuals after their proceedings, and escort individuals after hearings.”

The post continues, “This morning, in an effort to intimidate and retaliate against the volunteers, ICE arrested Barbara and federal officers have detained her the whole day. She is being interrogated without an attorney and without talking to witnesses.

According to Kort, Stone is a 71 year old white woman, a US born citizen, a grandmother, and a passionate volunteer for the most vulnerable in our society.

Stone’s website indicates she is a graduate of Grossmont High School in El Cajon who later studied U.C. Berkeley and at the Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, later working for Qualcomm Inc.


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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WEST NILE VIRUS SPREAD: COUNTY TO HOLD PROGRAM SATURDAY IN LA MESA

 

Pesticide spraying set for July 14 and 15 in more La Mesa neighborhoods

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2025 (La Mesa) – Concern over West Nile virus in the La Mesa and Rolando areas has ramped up, after County Vector control tested nearly 2,000 mosquitos in 165 batches in these areas.

West Nile virus found in 37 batches of mosquitos tested in Roland and La Mesa

 “In this area, 37 batches have tested positive for West Nilie virus, Gig Conaughton, communication specialist for San Diego County, told East County Magazine.

The positive tests were in La Mesa and the San Diego portion of Rolando.

Mosquitos were also tested in Lemon Grove, with no West Nile virus detected there.

Spraying dates and locations

Pesticide spraying will be done Monday and Tuesday, July 14 and 15, between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.in the La Mesa areas shown on the map at left and at the County's Adult Mosquito Control site.


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RAMONA MAN KILLED IN TWO-VEHICLE CRASH

East County News Service
 
July 11, 2025 (Ramona) – A 35-year-old Ramona man died at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on State Route 67 in Ramona on Wednesday, July 9.
 
The victim was driving a Lexus southbound on state Route 67 near Brantner Lane when for unknown reasons, his vehicle crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a Ford Excursion.
 
The Lexus driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
The driver of the Ford, a 65-year-old Ramona woman, was transported to Palomar Hospital with moderate injuries.

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COUNTY EXTENDING MOSQUITO SPRAYING IN LA MESA EARLY MON. AND TUES.

 
East County News Services
 
July 11, 2025 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County officials plan to expand and extend ultra-low volume, truck-mounted, pesticide-mist treatments between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday mornings in parts of La Mesa to reduce mosquito populations and protect the public from the potential spread of West Nile virus.
 
County Vector Control announced this week that crews would conduct truck treatments through roughly 4,000 parcels in the community of Rolando, including parts of La Mesa and San Diego, between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
 
Those treatments were done successfully Wednesday and Thursday and will continue Friday.
 
This weekend, Vector Control staff will be responding to emails at vector@sdcounty.ca.govand phone calls at (858) 694-2888 for questions from the community.
 
La Mesa city staff will also be available to answer questions at an information session from 10 a.m. until noon this Saturday, July 12 at the La Mesa Library, 8074 Allison Ave.
 
Treatments are now scheduled to be expanded into another 3,000 to 4,000 parcels in La Mesa after Vector Control detected more mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. The new treatments will be done between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15.

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SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR WELLS PARK MURDER IN EL CAJON

Victim’s family held a press conference shortly after the killing to ask the public for help to find the killers (Photo via ECM news partner 10 News)
 
East County News Service
 
July 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has announced the arrest of two men on suspicion of murdering Deandre Bryant at Wells Park in El Cajon last April.
 
Suspects Frankie England, 22, and Dontel Wallace, 35, have pleaded not guilty of killing Bryant, 46.
 
Bryant was in the parking lot listening to music around 9:45 p.m. on April 13, when two men tried to rob him of his gold chains. The would-be thieves chased Bryant, striking him in the head and chest. Surveillance video showed the suspects fleeing and getting into a vehicle, leaving Bryant to die at the scene.

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SPRINGS FIRE SPARKS EVACUATIONS IN JAMUL

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update July 11, 2025 8:30 a.m.-- The Spring Fire has been held to 50 acres and is now 20% contained, per Cal Fire. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. Cause of the Springs Fire was a vehicle with a malfunctioning catalytic converter, per Cal Fire.

July 10, 2025 (Jamul) -- Three small brush fires being called the #SpringsFire are burning near Lyons Valley Road and Honey Springs Road in the Lawson Valley area of Jamul. Th wildfire has burned 49.9 acres and is 10% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued.

View a map with updated evacuation areas at the Genasys Protect site.

A temporary evacuation site is at Regal Edwards Cinemas, 2951 Jamacha Road, El Cajon

The fire is under unified command with Cal Fire and Cleveland National Forest.

Forward spread on one of the fires has been halted, but the other two have merged,per Cal Fire.


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LEMON GROVE COUNCILMAN AND HELIX FOOTBALL COACH STEVE FAIAI DIES

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 10, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Community members are grieving the loss of Sitivi “Steve” Faiai.
 
The Lemon Grove City Councilmember and Helix High football coach died Tuesday morning of an apparent heart attack, according to the city.
 
Faiai, 50, was an active member of Journey Church and also worked at Sprouts grocery store.
 
A statement from the city announced the news “with a heavy heart,” offering praise for the Councilman elected in November.

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EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN STEELE FIRE; DRONE HAMPERED FIREFIGHTERS

Update:  All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.

Story, videos and photos by Josh Stotler

View videos: https://youtu.be/usGRn-FQPg0   and https://youtu.be/2vITCTQMPl4

July 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Firefighters have held the #SteeleFire to 28 acres. As of this evening, the fire is 25% contained, with no structures lost, according to Cal Fire, despite interference by a drone temporarily pausing aerial firefighting. 

Evacuation warnings have been lifted along with most evacuation orders, though an evacuation order remains for zone  SDC-2098-B.  For the latest evacuation updates, visit  Genasys Protect Evacuation Map.


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COTTONWOOD SAND MINE BACKERS FAIL TO DREDGE UP ENOUGH VOTES, AS PLANNERS DEADLOCK

By Karen Pearlman

..."I have never seen such a destructive project with such negative impacts on the people who live in a community." -- former Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a Jamul resident (photo, left)

July 9, 2025 (San Diego) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine is a wash, at least for now.

After nearly six hours of testimony, presentations and discussion, the San Diego County Planning Commission on Wednesday voted to disapprove a permit for the planned private sand mining operation in Rancho San Diego.


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OVER 4,700 UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS FROM STEELE FIRE

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

July 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Steele Fire has prompted evacuations of over 4,700 residents in Jamul and Rancho San Diego due to structure threast.  The fire began on Star Acres Drive in Rancho San Diego View map of areas under evacuation orders or warnings.

Evacuees can go to Steele Canyon High School.  


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