Archive | December, 2023

Webster community mailbag

13 Dec

Have your kids had a chance to see Santa this year? If not, no sweat. Santa will be at Never Say Never Stables this Saturday and Sunday Dec. 16 and 17, from noon to 2 p.m. both days, visiting with the kids and the horses. (Including an adorable reinhorse!)

In addition to the chance to talk with Santa, this FREE family-fun event will also feature hay wagon rides, a make-your-own reindeer snack station, a take-home treat for the children, and photo ops with all of the animals, including horses, goats, ducks, chicken, bunny and guinea pig.

Never Say Never Stables, located at 906 Maple Dr., is a small family-owned horse farm offering children’s lessons, fun programs, and parties on a more personal, “not-so-commercial” scale. It is also home to the Never Say Never Foundation, a not-for-profit equine-assisted program that provides life-enriching, horse related experiences to children and teens living with long-term illness, special needs and/or other serious life challenges. 


Spaghetti Dinner

The Webster Association of Senior Program Supporters (WSPS) is hosting a Spaghetti Dinner on January 5, 2024 at the Webster Masonic Temple, 30 Orchard Street.

Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., and includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, drink and dessert. Cost is $12 for adults, $6 for kids 12 and under. You can eat in or take out.

All proceeds go to supporting the WSPS, a local non-profit providing rides for Webster School District Seniors to their medical appointments.


This notice from the Webster Schools:

Families of Young Children Asked to Take Census

Webster CSD is surveying the community to forecast student enrollment for the foreseeable future.

Anyone in the district who has children residing in their household ages birth to 5 years old is asked to
complete the brief online census. Families who don’t have access to a computer can participate by calling Student Registration at (585) 216-0029.

The annual young child census is available now on the district website and will be available through Jan. 6, 2024.


New benches on the Hojack

Shout-out to Cole Featherly, from Scout Troop 262, for his fine work on three new benches he built for the Hojack Trail as part of his Eagle Scout Project.

Cole also installed two similar benches in the new Michael A. Johnson Nature Preserve. Some of the benches have additional small tables.

The project was suggested and funded by the Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) using a grant from the Webster Rotary , and supervised by FWT Scout liaison Pat Fulkerson. Keep an eye out for them as you’re hiking the trails this season!


Finally, here are a few final reminders about special events at the Webster Museum and the Webster Public Library.

The museum is holding a great fundraiser which will make a perfect gift idea. It’s called “12 Months of Flowers,” and is being offered in conjunction with Kittelberger Florist.

Purchase a “12 Months of Flowers” card for $40, cash or check only, at the museum during their regular hours, or email jannaujokas1@yahoo.com. You’ll receive one bouquet of flowers, each month, for 12 consecutive months. Bouquets are valued at $15 and must be picked up at Kittelberger Florist, 263 North Ave, Webster. What a great way to brighten every month of the new year for someone special (or yourself)!

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park (just steps off of East Main St.). They’re open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

And don’t forget about the Friends of the Webster Library Holiday Book Sale, happening right now.

There’s a table set up through Dec. 21 (unless everything sells out before then) with gently-used books, DVDs, CDs and puzzles. Stop by next time you’re at the library and check some things off your shopping list.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.

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(posted 12/13/2023)

Senior Singers sing in the holidays next week

12 Dec

The beautifully melodic Senior Singers will host their annual Holiday Concert at the Webster Recreation Center on Tuesday Dec. 19 at 11 a.m.

The Senior Singers is a enthusiastic group of older adults who come together at the Rec Center every Tuesday to sing, socialize and — two or three times a year — share their love for music with the Greater Webster community.

As the name suggests, this particular concert will feature a lot of your holiday favorites. Which means that not only will it be enjoyable, you’re guaranteed to be humming tunes as you walk out the door.

There’s no charge to attend the holiday concert, and registration is not necessary. So bring a friend, a grandchild, or come solo, and take a moment out of your day and stop by to hear some beautiful music. While you’re there, consider joining this fun group. It doesn’t cost anything, and no audition is required. The only things you really need are the desire to make music — and a lot of new friends.


The Senior Singers have offered older adults a no-cost, no-stress opportunity to rehearse and perform music for almost 40 years. Comprised of both men and women 55 and over, the group rehearses every Tuesday at 11 a.m. in a small room at the Recreation Center from September through June, taking two months off during the summer. And two or three times a year, especially before their summer break and at holiday time, they move into the Center’s large multipurpose room to present community concerts, performing Broadway show tunes, old standards and holiday favorites.

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(posted 12/9/2023)

The Wreath Truck will be here Wednesday afternoon!

12 Dec

I just learned that the Wreaths Across America truck — carrying Webster’s 1,360 wreaths for Wreath Day on Saturday — will be arriving at the Roseland Fire Station (corner of Salt and Plank) around 1:30 or 2 p.m. this Wednesday Dec. 13.

The truck will be met there by a police escort, drive to Woody Acres Tree Farm to drop off the Webster Rural Cemetery wreaths, then to Webster Union Cemetery to drop off the wreaths for that cemetery and Union Hill.

We’re hoping the 18-wheeler will drive through the Village of Webster to get to Rt. 250, and it would be great to have as many people out there on sidewalks cheering the truck and its special cargo.

The truck is part of the Wreaths Across America “Honor Fleet,” made up of hundreds of trucking companies who volunteer their drivers, equipment and time to deliver almost three million wreaths every year to every corner of the country.

Even if you can’t be there to cheer on the truck, plan to attend this weekend’s Wreaths Across America wreath-laying ceremony at Webster Union Cemetery. On Saturday Dec. 16, community members will gather to lay 1,360 wreaths on veterans’ graves at Webster Union, Union Hill and Webster Rural cemeteries. It’s a solemn ceremony designed to remember these servicemen and women and to thank them for their sacrifices.

The day will begin at noon at Webster Union Cemetery (corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull) with a short ceremony, after which community members will spread out through the cemetery to lay 700 wreaths. Interested volunteers will then travel to Webster Rural and Union Hill cemeteries to lay another 660 wreaths there.

Click here to read more about last year’s ceremony, and plan to bring the whole family to help out.

Stay tuned to my Webster on the Web Facebook page Wednesday morning for an update on the time the truck will be arriving.

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(posted 12/12/2023)

Talent Showcase will feature Schroeder, Thomas musicians and special guest

11 Dec

Dozens of Webster high school students will present their musical and high-stepping talents at a combined Webster Schroeder/Webster Thomas Talent Showcase on Friday, Dec. 15 at Schroeder High School beginning at 7 p.m.

The Webster Show Choir will take center stage for the two-act show, which will also feature instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers from both high schools. They’ll be performing an outstanding variety of music from Broadway musicals to Chopin, from Usher to the Beatles. There’ll be dancers and a barbershop quartet. Basically, something for everyone.

PLUS….

Attending as a special guest that evening is the outstanding vocal trio Sincerely, Three, featuring 1998 Webster Schroeder grad David Kotary.  

Mark Angelini, Matt Rothenberg and Dave Kotary comprise Sincerely, Three, which Kotary describes as “a passion project that was just supposed to be a one-time offering online … with some of our friends that we quarantined with during COVID.” They soon realized they were creating a special sound, and decided to turn professional. They’ve since headlined on luxury cruise lines and regularly perform in Central Florida, most recently at Universal Studios.

Returning to his hometown of Webster — and his old high school — is very meaningful for Kotary. For starters, he’ll be performing on the stage where he acted in his first-ever musical production, the Webster Theatre Guild’s Oliver in 1993.

But more than that, he wrote,

My sister, Mary Beth Walker, also attended Schroeder for several years and our late mother, Mary Ann Kotary, was a 6th grade teacher for several decades at both State Road Elementary and Willink Middle School. So many memories have been shared on this particular stage, so it’s a huge honor to come back and perform among my best friends and mentors (Kim Lord and Laura D’Angelo) from home and my best friends from Orlando, Matt Rothenberg and Mike Angelini, the other members of “Sincerely, Three.”

On the day of the show, Sincerely, Three will also provide a series of workshops for students, talking about their background, how they got where they are, and providing tips on how to become successful in the music business.

Kotary is also excited about this opportunity. He wrote,

We hopefully can inspire even one student, whether musically inclined or otherwise, to realize their own potential by seeing that a silly idea that first had its spark in my dining room has now developed into a renowned business that has taken us on adventures across the globe. If we didn’t know how to do something, we learned how to do it:  Music editing, video production, marketing, sound design, website design, sales, etc.  The list goes on and on.

Don’t miss this dynamic group and our very own talented Webster high school students as they take the stage at the Talent Showcase, this Friday Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. Suggested cash donation is $5.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/11/2023)

December History Bit: the Burkardt Family Creche

10 Dec

My more discriminating readers may recognize this month’s History Bit as identical to the one I posted last December. But you’d be wrong. (I actually changed a few words.) But this beautiful creche deserves revisiting every year. So here you have it again!

Hand-crafted creche a Webster Museum holiday tradition

We can always count on the Webster Museum to be especially beautiful and sparkly this time of year, with holiday decorations and miniature Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the displays.  But for more than 40 years, the real star of the show has been the Burkardt Family Creche.  

This beautiful, hand-carved creche, on display near the museum’s entrance, has a fascinating history all its own. This creche was made in Germany by C. Jess, a church architect. He made one piece a year between 1918 and 1944, each year giving the newly carved piece to his sister Freda in Frankfurt, Germany. 

Freda and her husband Henrick kept the creche hidden during World War II so that it wouldn’t be destroyed in the frequent bombings. It would have been passed on to their only son, but he was killed during the war, so they sent it to Freda’s brother, Rudolph Burkardt Sr., who lived with his family on Salt Rd. in Webster. 

The Burkardts displayed the creche in their home for decades before donating it to the museum in the late 1970s, where it’s been a treasured centerpiece of the museum’s holiday decorations ever since. 

The scene has roughly two dozen pieces, all hand carved out of linden wood. In addition to Baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary and the Three Kings, it also includes a shepherd boy, angels, sheep, camels, oxen, and even an elephant.

The Burkardt Family Creche will be on display at the Webster Museum until January, when museum volunteers will painstakingly wipe each piece with oil and pack them away until next year. So come see it while you can, and while you’re there, make sure to vote for your favorite community-decorated Christmas tree during the museum’s Festival of Trees. Votes will be accepted through Dec. 31. You can also vote online at webstermuseum.org.  

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster. It’s open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  

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(posted 12/10/2023)

Barry’s Runners represented at this year’s It’s a Wonderful Run

10 Dec

Just a quick bonus post today to send a shout-out to all of my Barry’s Runners friends who traveled to Seneca Falls on Saturday afternoon to represent our running club at the annual It’s a Wonderful Run 5K. Fourteen of us made the hour-long drive, which was the largest Barry’s Runners group we’ve ever had participating.

Several of these friends decided to attend the race because I’m always telling them how much fun it is. It always draws thousands of runners (this year the total was 4,600), and almost everyone dresses up in holiday attire, including bells, Santa hats, elf costumes and Christmas lights. I saw people dressed as Christmas trees and snowmen, and lots of tutus. Everyone is in a jolly mood and more than happy to step in to take a picture of your whole group if you ask. And there was a lot of that.

And this is also a must-do event for any fan of the Jimmy Stewart classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s generally accepted that Frank Capra based his movie on the charming little village. There’s an It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, and the race actually begins on the bridge believed to be the inspiration for the one in the movie — and 83-year old Karolyn Grimes herself (who played Zuzu) starts the race by announcing the famous line, “Every time a bell rings, a angel gets his wings.”

True to its name, the It’s a Wonderful Run is more a run (or walk) than a race. For sure there are many runners who wiggle to the front of the pack to do their 7-minute miles, but many more thousands of us are content to walk most of the route, to experience everything there is to see and do along the way.

Seneca Falls village residents come out in force for this event. They set up fire pits and ring cow bells and give high-fives to all the runners. They hand out Fireball shots, wine shots, whiskey shots, pudding and jello shots. They hand out full cans of beer and hard seltzer. At one house, they were grilling hot dogs and handing them to the runners. At another, they were cooking up marshmallows. The houses are ablaze with Christmas lights and Christmas music blares from the porches.

And there are lots of opportunities to take your photo with signs and backdrops with scenes you know from the movie.

I’m pretty sure that my Barry’s Runners friends enjoyed themselves very much and were not disappointed after my big build-up. I’m already looking forward to doing it again next year with an even bigger group from Webster representing.

If you’re interested in seeing more photos from the event, click here for a gallery. I tried to capture some of the more outlandish costumes, and the sense of community generated by Seneca Falls as we all celebrate one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/10/2023)

Webster Village Band will host its holiday concert next week

9 Dec

The Webster Village Band is proud to present their annual Community Holiday Concert on Saturday Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School. 

This year’s holiday concert will be the first led by the band’s new director, Andy Kittelson. Kittelson recently replaced long-time conductor Tom Indiano, who retired last summer after leading the band for more than 18 years.

Kittleson is an award-winning instrumental music teacher in the Wayne Central School District, which many people might recognize from his frequent work with local theater productions, the Kodak Concert Band. He’s also very involved with the New York State School Music Association. He and the band have prepared an outstanding program of about a dozen holiday tunes and medleys, including a sing-along at the end, guaranteed to put everyone in the holiday spirit.  

The performance begins at 2 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School, 850 Ridge Rd., and is expected to run about 75 minutes. There’s no cost to attend.

The Webster Village Band has been making beautiful music for more than 55 years. Now more than 50 members strong, the band also performs three summer concerts at Harmony Park, two concerts at Cherry Ridge, and at the Village of Webster Sept. 11 ceremony. 

The annual Community Holiday Concert marks the end of the band’s 2023 holiday season, which begins in mid-October. They’ll take up their instruments again in March, and are always looking for more community members to join their musical family. For more information, contact Sarah Newman at senewman76@gmail.com.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/9/2023)

Wreath Day (and welcome-the-truck day) are right around the corner

8 Dec

National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday Dec. 16, is almost here.

On that day, community members will gather to lay 1,360 wreaths on veterans’ graves at Webster Union, Union Hill and Webster Rural cemeteries. It’s a solemn ceremony designed to remember these servicemen and women and to thank them for their sacrifices.

The day will begin at noon at Webster Union Cemetery (corner of Rt. 250 and Woodhull) with a short ceremony, after which community members will spread out through the cemetery to lay 700 wreaths. Interested volunteers will then travel to Webster Rural and Union Hill cemeteries to lay another 660 wreaths there.

Adults and children of all ages are encouraged to take part in this very moving ceremony. Start a new holiday tradition for your family; it’s a great way to teach your children about how important it is to remember and recognize our nation’s veterans. Mark your calendar now and stay tuned for more details. You can also follow the Wreaths Across America Facebook page to keep up on all the latest news.  

If you’d like to help, please take a moment to sign up here so organizers have some idea of how many people are coming. (But if you forget, no sweat. Just come anyway.)

Last year, the first year in which Webster joined the Wreaths Across America effort, more than 300 adults, children, first responders, veterans and active service members laid 650 wreaths at Webster Union Cemetery. (Click here to read the blog about that incredible day.) It was an incredible outpouring of support from the Webster community. Even more volunteers will be needed to help out with this year’s expanded effort.

And do you remember when the wreath truck came through town?

The Wreaths Across America truck is expected to arrive in Webster in the next few days, an 18-wheeler traveling from Maine (where the wreaths are created) to deliver our 1,360 wreaths. The plan is for it to pick up a police escort at the Roseland Fire Station (corner of Salt and Plank roads) and then continue to the cemeteries to drop off the wreaths. The truck is part of the Wreaths Across America “Honor Fleet,” made up of hundreds of trucking companies who volunteer their drivers, equipment and time to deliver almost three million wreaths every year to every corner of the country.

It would be great if we could cheer the driver along as he comes through town. As I get more specific details, I’ll let you know!

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/8/2023)

Webster community mailbag

7 Dec

First, this reminder from the Webster Museum about a great holiday fundraiser … which also makes a great gift idea.

It’s called “12 Months of Flowers,” and is being offered in conjunction with Kittelberger Florist.

Purchase a “12 Months of Flowers” card for $40, cash or check only, at the museum during their regular hours, or email jannaujokas1@yahoo.com. You’ll receive one bouquet of flowers, each month, for 12 consecutive months. Bouquets are valued at $15 and must be picked up at Kittelberger Florist, 263 North Ave, Webster. What a great way to brighten every month of the new year for someone special (or yourself)!

The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park (just steps off of East Main St.). They’re open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m.


This reminder from the Women’s Club of Webster that they’re always welcoming new members.

The mission of the Women’s Club is to make a positive difference in the lives of Webster community members, primarily through fundraising. The list of organizations and scholarships the club supports is impressive, including the Webster Comfort Care Home, the Webster Museum, service awards for high school students, the Webster Library, Webster NY Hope and many more.


If you’ve never been to a meat raffle (they’re HUGE in Buffalo), then you’ve missed out on a unique and entertaining experience.

For not a whole lot of money, you can win some big bunches of steak, bacon, pork, sausages … and much more.

This particular meat raffle is being hosted as a fundraiser for the Webster Wolves baseball team on Saturday Jan. 20. Check the flyer for more details.


There’s lots of stuff going on at the Webster Public Library this month, starting with the annual Friends of the Webster Library Holiday Book Sale.

There’s a table set up through Dec. 21 (unless everything sells out before then) with gently used books, DVDs, CDs and puzzles. Stop by next time you’re at the library and check some things off your shopping list.

Also going on this month at the library:

  • Music and Movement Story Time on Tuesday Dec. 12 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • Family Night on Monday Dec. 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Bring the whole family and make a penguin egg puppet. No registration is required.
  • Make it Monday for Teens, Monday Dec. 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. This month, make a sock snowman. Registration is required. Click here.
  • Teen Library Club, Wednesday Dec. 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Kids in grades 6 through 12 are invited to learn how to become more involved in the library and the community. Registration is required. Click here.
  • For adults: Tending to Life — Blue Christmas, Saturday Dec. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. Sharon Willow talks about grief and the holidays. Registration is required. Click here.
  • Holiday Music in the Library, Saturday Dec. 16. At 10:30 a.m., the Madrigalia Carolers will perform in the main library (no registration required). At 1 p.m. the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra will perform in the Community Room. Registration is required for that performance. Click here.

The Webster Public Library is located at 980 Ridge Rd., at the back of Webster Plaza.


‘Tis definitely the holidays at the Webster Recreation Center!

Santa will be there from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 9 to welcome children of all ages. He’ll wait for everyone, so no need to show up at right at the beginning; stop in anytime between 1 and 3 p.m.

And while you’re there — whether you see Santa or not — you can drop off your letter to Santa in the mailbox anytime between Dec. 9 and 19. And guess what!! Santa will actually write a return letter which you can pick up at the Rec Center beginning on Dec. 21.

And if your kids like cookies, check this out: Stop in anytime on Saturday Dec. 9 between 8 a.m. and noon (before Santa gets there) for a Stay ‘n Play Cookie Decorating Party. It’s free and no registration is necessary.

And you won’t want to miss the Senior Singers Holiday Performance on Tuesday Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. This FREE performance of holiday classics will have you singing all day. This is a community event, so bring your friends and family! More to come about this in a future blog.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 12/7/2023)

Vietnam-era armored car rolls into town

6 Dec

There’s a new military vehicle in town, and it’s a really big deal.

I say that not just because the M706 Commando armored car, recently acquired by the Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post, is not only really big (it weighs more than eight tons), but the simple fact that the Legion was able to get one is a big deal in itself.

The armored car arrived by flatbed trailer on November 17, after traveling more than 600 miles from the AAF Tank Museum in Danville, Va. The museum closed last month, at which time several of its exhibit pieces became available, and the American Legion post jumped at the chance to get one.

That’s about the only way organizations can acquire a display piece. Past Legion Commander Greg Cody explained that most decommissioned military vehicles are used for target practice, so you basically have to wait for a museum or Legion post or VFW post to close and their display pieces go up for grabs.

For our Webster American Legion, it’s been a long wait; Cody put in the post’s application a full nine years ago.

Considering the armored vehicle saw action in the Vietnam War in the early ’60s, it’s in pretty good shape. Still, Cody said, “When it showed up it was in worse shape than in the pictures we saw.” It was missing some windows, and the turret and the hatch had been removed and stuffed inside the vehicle.

Pretty much all that remains inside are the seats and the steering mechanism. “When they give you a tank or vehicle, they come completely stripped inside so no one can make it work,” Cody explained. Even the engine is removed. It had also clearly spent some time outside after the museum closed, because there were leaves and branches inside and some surface rust.

Getting a static display piece for our small-town Webster American Legion is, as I said, a big deal. Usually only the bigger Legion or VFW posts get them, or perhaps entire townships, because it’s a rather expensive proposition. The government doesn’t charge anything, but it does cost a lot of money to have the monster vehicles loaded up, trucked hundreds of miles, and then unloaded. You also have to have enough room to display it.

The vehicle’s under wraps right now, tucked under a tarp in a corner of the Legion’s parking lot. In the spring, Cody will crawl back inside to clean it up and do more repairs, give it a new paint job, and work with a local machine shop to fashion some mock gun barrels. That’s also when the Legion’s members will decide where on the property it will be permanently displayed. The plan is to put a fence around it, plant a garden and install a plaque.

It’s sure to be a fitting memorial to all those who served.

The Cottreall-Warner American Legion Post 942 is located at 818 Ridge Rd., at the corner of Five Mile Line Rd.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com“Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 12/6/2023)