Meet The Team Lindsey Kasprzak
PUBLISHER, ART & MEDIA DIRECTOR
Leslie Henderson MANAGING EDITOR
Dawn Allen EDITOR
Taylor Smith WRITER
CONTRIBUTORS:
TRACEE EVANS CLAUDIA LAIRD W.F. STRONG RAIGAN MAYO JENNIFER BROWN CONROE/LAKE CONROE CHAMBER
From Our Publisher Oh Lord, who is ready for a margarita?! Y’all, we are just a few days away from getting back to normal life, and I can’t wait! The month of April was hard for everyone, but what an incredible community we have. The way everyone has come together to support small businesses, share their Facebook posts, give shoutouts, and use curbside pickup and delivery services has been awesome to see. Here at Lone Star Local Guide we have been doing our best to make sure you know about our customers and what they offer. I know it will take some time, but with support from our local community, we will all be back on our feet in no time. Remember the old saying: “Patience is a virtue”? Well, with all the patience I’ve seen on display in our community, I know great things are headed our way. So, what can you do as an LSLG reader? Keep it local, y’all! Please keep ordering from our Montgomery County restaurants, shop local boutiques, and plan to attend upcoming festivals. Little things like this can make a big difference--plus you can still be proactive by washing your hands, keeping a safe distance, and wearing your mask and gloves to help you feel safe from any germs or cooties. Until next month, y’all stay safe and keep it local.
Lindsey Kasprzak Download our app and have the magazine delivered to your phone!
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LONE STAR LOAL GUIDE © 2020, all rights reserved. All editorial and advertising copy belongs solely to LONE STAR LOAL GUIDE Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission is strictly prohibited. Articles are the opinions and experiences of other people and we do not necessarily approve, agree with, and/or condone those opinions.
table of
CONTENTS MAY 2020
Business of the Month Lakeside Dental Practice - Page 6
Features
6
Squeaky Pig Food Blog - Page 5 Spring Fire Department - Page 9 How A Grassroots Movemnet Helped End The Polio
5
Epidemic - Page 13 Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber - Page 19 Jim Bowie, The Original Influencer - Page 21
9
Learn From Lady Justice - Page 25 Come and Explore It - Page 29 Lone Star Local Savings - Page 30
29 Lone StarEdition Local Guide Dock Line Magazine - Atascocita AprilPage 20183 3
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FOODIE By: Raigan Mayo Food Blogger
Teriyaki Steak Bowl I love me some teriyaki skirt steak on top of some brown rice. You could use another kind of meat chicken, sirloin, or shrimp and it would still be yummy! Other topping ideas that would great additions - bean sprouts, cilantro, or peanuts. For the Beef: 1 lb Grass Fed Beef Skirt Steak 2/3 Cup G Hughes Sugar Free Teriyaki Sauce I recommend marinating overnight or the morning of. For Rice: 1 PKG of Seeds of Change Brown Rice and Quinoa (cooked according to package instructions *2 Cups Shredded Cabbage *1 Cup Carrots Julienned
1/2 Cup Sweet Onion, diced 1 Large Garlic Clove sliced thin 1 1/2 TBL Teriyaki Sauce 1 TBL Braggs Aminos 1 TSP Sesame Oil Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce Oil for cooking * you can sub small bag of coleslaw mix for carrots and cabbage Preparation 1. Heat pan Medium to Medium Low Heat 2. Add small amount of oil with onions, carrots, and garlic. Stir frequently to prevent burning. 3. Add cabbage and once onions are almost translucent; cook for 3 to 5 minutes. 4. Add rice, sesame oil, braggs, teriyaki sauce. 5. Turn up to medium high heat.Pat the rice down in the pan and allow the under side to get crispy. Be careful not to burn the mixture this should only take a couple of minutes 6. Grill Skirt steak on both sides about 3 minutes on each side or as long as you like to get meat the right temperature for your taste Add rice to a bowl, add sliced beef Top with a zip zag(I use a zip lock with a whole in the corner) Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce. Hope you enjoy! Follow me at @squeakypigfoodie on Instagram and Facebook.
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By: Taylor Smith
I think we’ve all had that feeling
the dentist. But what if I told you that
done in a pleasant, friendly, and
of dread when the time comes to visit
you could have all your dental work
welcoming environment? That’s the experience provided by Dr. Mariana Coconu, owner of Lakeside Dental Practice. Dr. Coconu graduated in 2004 from dental school in Romania, where she was born and raised. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a dentist. I was a young girl when my father needed dental care, but we lived in a small town where there
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we have had fantastic feedback and our customers are always happy to come back for their six-month cleaning--plus we get so many referrals.“ Dr. Coconu offers cosmetic, genwas no dentist available. I felt a calling to help those in need when it came to dental work.“
eral, reconstructive, and advanced
dentist.” In July 2019, Dr. Coconu bought and
reopened
Lakeside
Dental
In 2013, her calling led her to the
Practice on highway 105 across from
Oklahoma Panhandle, where there
April Sound. Her hard work has pro-
were miles with no dentist in sight.
duced a warm environment fully
Once Dr. Coconu got her dental li-
equipped with both the latest equip-
cense here in the States, she opened
ment and beautiful interior design,
up her new practice and was able to
providing her patients with optimum
help ranch and farm owners with their
care in relaxing surroundings.
dental health.
“My staff and I are very friendly
“I love working with people and
and want everyone to leave with a
bringing a smile to their faces. It’s al-
smile. Since I reopened this practice,
ways heartwarming to help someone
dentistry, and accepts all insurance. She also sees all ages, including children. You can learn more on her website at www.lakesidedentalpracticetx.com, give her a call at (936) 588-8811, and even give Lakeside Dental Practice a follow on Facebook. Hours are, Mon - Thu: 8:00AM– 4:00PM & Fri: 8:00AM–1:00PM. Give Dr. Coconu’s office a call today for all your dental needs, and don’t forget to floss! u
that’s been in pain or bring peace to someone that has always feared the
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Thank you to All Who Support First Responders BY: Tracee Evans
While we all mourn those lost and miss seeing our families and co-workers during this COVID19 pandemic, these difficult times have brought out the best in our communities. Not only are people heeding the guidance to social distance, wash their hands frequently and wear masks when they can’t be several feet apart in public, so many are stepping up to help first responders and medical personnel on the frontlines of this crisis by providing meals, masks, gloves and funds for PPE (personal protective equipment). “We are so honored and privileged to do what we do,” said Spring Fire Chief Scott Seifert. “To get this support from the commu-
nity, who can’t be on the front-
stockpiles and fed hungry hospi-
lines with us, is just incredible. It
tal workers and first responders.
continues to inspire us to provide
ExxonMobil’s effort is huge
the best service possible to our
but it’s not the only port in their
amazing community.”
viral storm.
From local doctors bringing
Whitmeyer Distilling Co., LLC,
over gloves to citizens making
with the help of Global Health
masks to Exxon Mobil Corpora-
and Harris County Precinct Four
tion donating $5000 to help the Spring Fire Department replenish PPE (personal protective equipment) such as N95 masks, which firefighters use on medical calls, the outpouring of support has been huge. donation was part of ExxonMo-
(Photo: Spring District Chief Jimmy Stewart helping the crew of Spring Heavy Rescue 71 unload 180 gallons of hand sanitizer.)
bil’s nearly half a million donation
Commissioner Jack Cagle, dis-
“Meals and Masks” program for
tributed hundreds of gallons of
first responders and medical per-
hand sanitizers to nine local first
sonnel that has replenished PPE
responder agencies.
Their Spring Fire Department
It is not just PPE and sanitizing products which have been donated by local Home Depots as well, the many meals that organizations and restaurants have been providing have fueled our firefighters in these uncertain times. Smaller organizations like the Kailee Mills Foundation, a public
(Photo: Spring Firefighter, in medical PPE, opening a N95 respirator.)
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(Photo: David and Wendy Mills of the Kailee Mills Foundation making a lunch delivery to Spring Fire Station 71.)
safety prevention effort founded
(Photo: Spring Firefighters from Station 71 and 75 getting their meals from the NATC.) (Photo: Texas Roadhouse on FM 1960 at Interstate 45 fed all nine stations a delicious steak dinner.)
by the parents of a teenager girl
gram and Chick Fil A has made numerous visits to our stations just to drop off lunch.
killed in a car accident when she
Local Apartment complexes
unbuckled for a moment to take
have brought lunch over and the
a picture, delivered lunch to all
National Air Traffic Controllers As-
nine Spring Fire Stations and hand-
sociation (NATC) fed an entire
made masks for our administration
shift of Spring Firefighters and has asked to come back and feed even more. “The Spring Fire Department wishes we could thank everyone in one story, but as you can see the Lone Star Guide would run out of space” added Seifert. “Every
Members of the Resurrection Lutheran Church dropped off Rudy’s BBQ (pictured above) to multiple Spring Fire Stations to thank the firefighters.
dinners. Patrons of the Lasagna House on FM 1960 bought meals
team. The
(Photo: Spring Fire Department receiving #PieItForward from Little Caesars.)
Woodlands
Church
for three Spring fire stations.
worked with Gringo’s Tex-Mex of
Patrons of the Lasagne House
Spring to provide Enchiladas and
bought meal for the firefight-
more to all nine Spring Fire sta-
ers and the restaurant delivered
tions. The Adriatic Café in Spring
them.
also delivered delicious Italian fa-
Little Caesars customers made
vorites to all nine stations. Texas
Spring Station 71 part of the One
Roadhouse on I-45 brought steak
Millions Pies to first responders pro-
day it seems more people email us at information@springfd.org or call our office to ask how to help. We are truly blessed.” The Spring Fire Department does endeavor to thank everyone on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and NextDoor for their generosity in these uncertain times. Follow Spring Fire at @SpringFDTX to see more.u
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By: W.F. Strong
The silver lining of the COV-
hardest hit state of all.
est- hit town per capita that
ID-19 pandemic, if there is one,
Dr. Heather Green Woo-
year in the U.S. – it was hor-
seems to be that it spares chil-
ten, a medical historian, and
rifying in scope for the city of
dren. The polio epidemic that
author of the award-winning
50,000. Sixty children in San
raged off and on in the United
book, “The Polio Years in Texas:
Angelo came down with po-
States for about 40 years did the
Battling a Terrifying Unknown,”
lio in one summer. Many died.
opposite. Indeed, it seemed
told me the story of how Texas
Movie theaters and swimming
to focus on children. Whereas
responded to the polio epi-
pools and public gatherings
there is hope that COVID-19,
demic that terrified the state
were shut down. Travelers pass-
like the flu, will weaken in warm-
every summer for years.
ing through would roll up their
er weather, polio was most ag-
Dr. Wooten told me that
windows so as not to breathe
gressive in the summer months.
when San Angelo had a break-
the potentially contaminated
As such, Texas was perhaps the
out of polio in 1949 – the hard-
air. They wouldn’t even fill up Continue on page 15 u
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to reporters that ‘they had always kept a very clean house and didn’t understand how this could have happened.’ ” There was a public service song by Red River Dave, frequently played on the radio in those days. It stressed cleanliness. Here’s a sample: “Take care that all the food you eat and kitchen ware is clean/ Kill the rats and kill the mice and make the roaches go/ That’s the way to really whip that mean old polio” The response to polio was largely a grassroots one, with the common man (and children) largely funding the research, the treatments, the hospitals and rehab centers. a low tire at the gas station
do anything in groups in an ef-
for fear of taking the virus with
fort to keep them safe. Houses
them. Some residents refused
were kept spotless and were
to talk on the phone with any-
scrubbed top to bottom to kill
one, believing that perhaps,
all the germs. In fact, Wooten
somehow, polio could travel
told me, “When mothers lost
through the phone lines.
a child to polio they suffered
This kind of fear gripped Tex-
added anguish because they
as every summer for years. Par-
felt they would be judged as
ents would not let their children
bad mothers and poor house-
swim or go to summer camp or
keepers. They would explain
The March of Dimes, launched by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
was
enormously
successful in this regard. It mobilized school children and civic groups of all kinds – Rotary International, Kiwanis, The Masons – to collect dimes, quarters and dollars from anyone and everyone. Theaters would Continue on page 17 u
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play a short film like “The Crip-
miles east of Austin. How’s that
pler” before every movie, and
for creative marketing!
then turn on the lights and
Great institutions in Texas like the Scottish Rite Hospital
When World War II broke
for Crippled Children and the
the
out, the March of Dimes feared
Gonzalez Warm Springs Rehab
crowd. It was incredibly effec-
that donations would dry up.
Hospital for Crippled Children
tive. The March of Dimes also
However, FDR made beating
were among the best in the
introduced us to the concept
polio part of the war effort. He
country, as was the Jefferson
of the poster child, one of the
said on a radio address: “The
Davis Hospital in Houston. A fas-
most
fundraising
fight against [polio] is a fight to
cinating side note is that these
strategies of all time. Collection
the finish, and the terms are un-
hospitals were also among the
receptacles, in the form of little
conditional surrender.”
first institutions to be fully inte-
collect
donations
persuasive
from
iron lungs, were placed at cash
Big money entered the fight
grated, accepting all children
as well. Texas’ great oilmen
on equal terms, regardless of
Wooten said that the small
gave millions to build hospitals,
race, religion or creed. Wooten
donations coming from almost
treatment facilities and fund
noted that the children took to
every American gave each
research. Two of the greatest
integration beautifully and be-
person a stake in beating polio.
contributors were oil magnate
came each others’ best thera-
I like that one year the March of
Hugh Roy Cullen and politician
py. Doctors found that putting
Dimes national campaign was
Jesse Jones, both historically
them together helped them
launched from the community
among Texas’ most generous
function as a team against the
of Dime Box, Texas, about 70
philanthropists.
disease, cheering each other
registers everywhere.
on against a common enemy. You know the rest of the story: Dr. Jonas Salk, funded by the March of Dimes, discovered the first vaccine for the virus in the early 1950s, and rather than getting a patent and becoming an instant billionaire, he made a gift of his vaccine to all humanity.
This article was edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers for the Texas Standard radio program on Apple podcast Lone Star Local Guide Page 17
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By: W.F. Strong
A relatively new phenomenon in
have any influential prowess in 200
was truly a man’s man by any stan-
modern society is the rise of the in-
years? How many will have the last-
dard. If we were to make a movie of
fluencer – a person on social media
ing magic of Jim Bowie?
him today we’d have to get Keanu
who is skilled at persuading followers
Many people think that James
Reeves to play him.
to buy things. Some are influencers
“Jim” Bowie was made famous by
His world-renowned Bowie knife
by design and some are acciden-
defending the Alamo. He was, in
was probably first made at the direc-
tal influencers, finding without trying
truth, already quite famous nearly 10
tion of his own brother, Rezin. But the
that they have attracted an army of
years before he gave his life for Texas
classic design came from Jim in sub-
imitators. I wondered how many of
freedom. He was famous as a knife
sequent versions that had his modifi-
these now popular influencers, like
fighter, knife designer, frontiersman,
cations.
Kylie Jenner or Selena Gomez, will
and all-round, world-class badass. He
Jim used his brother’s version in a bloody skirmish called the Sandbar Fight. Jim was nearly killed by two assailants who both shot him. One endeavored to finish him off by stabbing him with a cane sword, but the sword bent when it hit Jim’s sternum, and so it gave Jim a moment to spring upon his attacker with his huge knife. He killed him instantly. He then badly wounded the second assailant who only survived by fleeing as fast as his injuries allowed him to run. You see, in those days you wanted to take a knife to a gun fight because Continue on page 23 u Lone Star Local Guide Page 21
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guns
were
notoriously
unreliable.
perbolically, that after the Sandbar
least what I heard as a kid, was that
Bowie miraculously survived and the
Fight, “all the steel in the country, it
he took out 10 Mexican soldiers with
account of the Sandbar Fight, thanks
seemed, was being converted into
his knife in close-quarters combat.
to a journalist who witnessed it, went
Bowie knives.” That’s influence!
This is improbable given that Bowie
“viral” in national papers, even mak-
Some later models had false edg-
was critically ill from typhoid fever at
ing it to Europe. Jim Bowie and his
es on the clip point, which made them
the time, but a good legend will kill
knife were thus immediately immor-
look sharp, though they weren’t. This
probability any day of the week. Of
talized.
provided advantages in strength to
course, no one can say for certain
the blade.
what happened in those last minutes,
What made the knife different was its size. The original was almost a
When Bowie arrived at the Alamo
and given his reputation for cat-like
foot long. But the next model, Bowie
nine years later with his notoriety on
reflexes mixed with the adrenaline of
Knife 2.0, was even longer, and razor
the rise and his famous knife at his
battle, who can say? I do like what
sharp on the bottom and the top.
side, even Davy Crockett was im-
Bowie’s mama said when she learned
About a third of the top of the knife,
pressed. He said the sight of it “makes
of his death: “I’ll wager no wounds
the clip point, was honed to a fine
you queasy … especially before
were found in his back.”
edge – so it cut both ways. Its lethal-
breakfast.”
After his death, the Bowie knife, in
ity became legendary. The Red River
Bowie’s last stand at the Alamo
various versions, began to be made
Herald of Natchitoches, Louisiana,
elevated his fame to the level of a
by blacksmiths, from the American
would one day write, no doubt hy-
demigod. It was widely claimed, at
Southwest
to
Sheffield,
England,
where the finest ones were made and exported to America. Texas Rangers carried them. The U.S. Marines had their own version. In popular films, Rambo never left home without his, and neither did Crocodile Dundee. It’s the one he’s holding when he says, “That’s a knife.” And Brad Pitt does some fancy swastika carving with his Bowie Knife in “Inglourious Basterds.” It’s as famous as the Swiss Army knife or the Buck knife. Given the ubiquity of his knife in the world today, nearly 184 years after his death, I’d say Jim Bowie is a greater influencer than any social media star you can name.
This article was edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers for the Texas Standard radio program on Apple podcast Lone Star Local Guide Page 23
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A Story Beyond The Court When this comes to an end,
for not letting her go home. She
A bold one.
and it will end we all will have in-
had even stated she would kill me
til there were new guards at the
teresting stories to tell about the
if she could. I assured my inves-
camp entrance. Her mother held
challenges we faced during this
tigator all would be well and we
her hand, and they walked out,
crisis. As the guardianship judge,
moved forward with our first hear-
right under the noses of their cap-
I encounter with people who are
ing. She walked in the courtroom
tors. Amazing.
in crisis.
I have been reminded
dressed to the nines with the dig-
I often wonder what her mind’s
of the story of one of our elderly
nity of a queen. The minute she
eye sees in her memory. The suf-
proposed wards from a few years
opened her mouth to speak, I
fering. The guards. Her mother.
back. There is no case pending,
understood completely. She was
I wonder if she knew as a young
so I may ethically discuss her situa-
Polish. I knew what happened to
child the bravery it took to es-
tion, but I will not reveal her name.
her before I ever heard her story.
cape, and that her mother saved
It all started when she ended up
I knew she had been involved in
her life in doing so.
in the hospital (like so many do)
the tragedies that took place dur-
I understood completely her
after a fall.
The hospital identi-
ing WWII. By the end of the hear-
mistrust of me and our court, be-
fied her dementia and could not
ing she told me in German of her
cause we are part of the govern-
release her without someone to
thanks to our court and to me. I
ment…an institution she will al-
take care of her. There was no
just adored her.
ways fear.
one. That’s when our court got
ished with her case, I asked my
So, in our days of challenge
involved. The court investigator is
investigator to see if she would tell
try to remember how blessed we
tasked with investigating all pro-
her story. She did.
truly are and look out for your
Before we fin-
They waited un-
posed guardianships to see if a
As a child, she and her moth-
neighbors. Remember when you
guardianship can be avoided.
er were sent to a concentration
look in the eyes of someone lost in
As the hearing approached, my
camp.
They were fortunate to
dementia…that you are also look-
court investigator felt obligated to
have blond hair, unlike the other
ing at a life, a valuable person
warn me that this woman hated
Jewish victims in the camp. Her
rich with the history of a life once
the government and hated me
mother hatched an escape plan.
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el
de Trav
ow
nifer Br
By: Jen
agablon n with V
Getting Back To Traveling Yes, we know! Right now, you don’t have the ability to travel unless it’s essential, but to prepare, let’s talk about some of the current travel trends out there now and maybe one of these will light a spark to book that next trip with Vagablonde Travel! Focusing on the largest generation, our Millennials know what they like -like avocado toast, and what they don’t like -always being blamed for what seems like everything. “Millennials’ view on travel is more than just getting a deal or going on a trip -it’s enrichment, it’s authenticity, it’s living in the moment, it’s relationships, says Scott Nash a BDM in the travel industry. Alesandra Dubin a news and lifestyle editor/writer from Los Angeles shares five clear themes this generation is focusing on. • Experiential Travel • Traveling Solo • Top Destinations and those they are staying away from • Multi-Generational Travel • The value of using a Travel Agent
“Experiential Travel – It’s widely reported that millennials favor experiences over material things when it comes to spending money – and in no category does that manifest more clearly than in travel. By comparison older generations are more likely to splurge on accommodations, while Millennials will splurge on activities and are more influenced by Instagram and social media on their ac-
tual destinations. They want to come home with great stories, new experiences, and great stories!” Is this you? Let’s consider the Big Island of Hawaii, where you can hike to a gorgeous green sand beach for the day or take an off road ride with a local Hawaiian to get there. “Traveling Solo- has been on the rise since 2015. While Europe, California, and Las Vegas are the top three Continue on page 31 u
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destinations for solo travel, significantly more solo travelers will head to Asia-Pacific. For these solo Millennials traveler, the most important decisionmaking factors are safety and cost, they say.” Millennials see travel as an investment so they look to a destination like Thailand where they can have the experience for a low cost and still feel safe. I traveled to Malaysia and Thailand in 2015 solo and can honestly say it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
“Top Destinations and those they are staying away fromSurvey results show that Europe has been steadily climbing as a target travel destination since 2015 while Mexico and the Caribbean remain flat. Europe’s popularity ties back to milBehind the scenes picture of owner, Jennifer Brown, in her office. lennials experiential travel priority. Europe is a spend roughly $4,300 in the next 12 destination that is seen more for the months on travel. In America, these experience than the typical sun and travelers are most interested in Canbeach vacation. Overall travelers ada, Hawaii, and Florida.” between 25 and 24 will increase the “The value of using a Travel Agent number of trips they will take in the – Millennials may be savvy digital nanext 12 months more than any other tives – but they are looking for travel generation.” agents and using their services. Why? “Multi-Generational Travelers – The top three reasons they give inare most open to all-inclusive trips clude agents’ knowledge of destinaor cruises. Most of them, if taking a tions, their ability to provide an extra cruise, will return for a land vacavalue of service when things go wrong tion later after getting a glimpse of it and the ability to take the hassle out from the cruise. Millennial families will of booking travel for the notoriously burn out-afflicted generation. Travel planning windows for younger travelers were generally shorter than those of older generations. More than half millennials plan their vacation travel within 3 months of departure.” Our Vagablonde Travel staff understand the need to travel on a short timeline and we respect and welcome those type of travelers. We will even push you to the front of our docket as we book in order of travel dates and departure. For more information on getting back to traveling contact us at, www. vagablondetravel.com.u
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