Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens

Area Agency on Aging - Senior Connection - HICAP

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Benefits of Adult Day Care

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Adult day care allows caregivers to continue working outside the home, receive help with the physical care of a loved one, avoid the guilt of placing a loved one in institutional care, and have respite from what can be a “24/7″ responsibility.

The care receiver can also benefit from adult day care. He or she is able to remain at home with family but does not require 24-hour care from the primary caregiver. Adult day care participants also have an opportunity to interact socially with peers, share in stimulating activities, receive physical or speech therapy if needed, and receive assistance with the activities of daily living with dignity.

A day at an adult day care center could include: supervised care; small group and individual activities such as reminiscence, sensory stimulation, music, art, and intergenerational activities; nutritious meals; transportation; case management; recreation and exercise; nursing care; education; family counseling; assistance with activities of daily living; and occupational, speech and physical therapies. These services are customized to each participant’s needs.

For more information on Adult Day Care services or to find a center near you, contact Senior Connection at (800) 510-2020 or (805) 928-2552. You can also view the centers by clicking below:

Adult Day Centers

Senior Farmers Market Coupons 2024

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SFMC

We are all out of coupons for the 2024 season. Check back next summer for the 2025 coupon distribution dates.

The Area Agency on Aging is pleased to announce the availability of a $50.00 coupon booklet for low income senior citizens for the purchase of fruits and vegetables at certified Farmers Markets in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

SFMC2015The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a 100 percent federally funded program which provides low-income seniors with check booklets that can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables at Certified Farmers’ Markets (CFM). The program is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services Agency (USDA, FNS), and in California, by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

At the coupon distribution sites, seniors that meet the age (60 years or older) and low income eligibility (up to $2,322.00 a month) requirements receive one free coupon booklet worth $50 per year. These coupons can be used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables only at WIC-authorized Certified Farmers’ Markets in this area. They cannot be redeemed for cash. Click below to view the distribution sites:

2024 Distribution Sites

For more information please contact us at (805) 925-9554 or toll-free at 1-800-510-2020.

Disaster Preparedness

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The onset of the fire season on the Central Coast is a reminder that everyone should be prepared for a disaster. This issue provides information about resources for seniors on the Central Coast for:

  • Getting early warning and ongoing information on local and statewide disasters
  • Tips and resources for being prepared for a disaster

A disaster by its very nature is unpredictable and disruptive, but taking the precautions suggested by the resources on this page can help limit the impact on older adults and those with disabilities.

Getting Information on Disasters:

There are several resources available to provide warnings and information on disasters:

 

reverse911Reverse 911– Sheriff’s Office dispatch facility has the capacity to inform the public directly by sending a phone message to each land line phone in the county to inform persons of evacuation orders, missing persons, Amber Alerts, etc. Those residents who have only a cell phone or would like to be notified by cell phone may also sign up on the Sheriff’s website: San Luis Obispo County or Santa Barbara County

 

 

ARCAmerican Red Cross – At the agency’s website people can sign up to receive email disaster alerts and other helpful updates.

 

 

Radiation_warning_symbol_svgDiablo Canyon Warning Siren-San Luis Obispo County’s Early Warning System Sirens would sound to alert area residents and visitors to tune to a local radio or television station for information. The sirens alert you that an emergency is taking place within the County and possibly at Diablo Canyon Power Plant. There are 131 sirens located in Protective Action Zones 1 through 12, stretching from Cayucos in the north to Nipomo Mesa in the south.

 

Radio Ready System- Disaster alerts and information available through radio stations that can continue to broadcast during a power outage. It is recommended that every household should have a hand-crank or battery-operated radio incase of an emergency. Don’t forget to include extra batteries in your emergency kit! In an emergency the regular transmission will be interrupted to broadcast important information like evacuation orders, shelter instructions, and more. Below is a list of radio stations participating in the Radio Ready program for Santa Barbara County:

FM Stations
88.3 KCLU NPR (South Coast)
89.7 KCLU NPR (Santa Maria)
90.9 KCBX (Santa Ynez Valley)
92.1 KCLU NPR (Santa Maria)
94.1 KOSJ (South Coast)
94.5 KSPE SPANISH (Countywide)
95.1 KCBX (Lompoc)
96.7 (Santa Ynez Valley/Solvang)
99.5 KCBX (Santa Maria)
99.9 KTYD (South Coast)
101.7 KLITE/KSBL (South Coast and Santa Ynez)
102.3 KCLU NPR (South Coast)
105.9 KRAZ (Santa Ynez/Solvang)
107.77 KIST SPANISH (Countywide)
AM Stations
990 KTMA (Santa Maria)
1440 KUHL (Santa Maria)
1490 KOSJ (South Coast)
1290 KZSB (South Coast)
1340 KCLU NPR (South Coast)

 

nwsNational Weather Service– Emergency alert radio signals are provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS). These radio signals are not accessible over AM/FM radios but are received by NOAA weather radios. Weather alert radios can be used to alert the public of other serious emergencies, not just weather events.

 

 Tips and Tools for Being Prepared:

DPGDisaster Prep Guide- The Area Agency on Aging has produced an Emergency Survival guide to prepare seniors and their loved ones for a disaster. The guide includes:

  • Tips Preparation checklist
  • Local contacts for disaster response

A copy of the guide is in every copy of the Senior Resource Directory and Senior Information Guide. You can also view it online here: Emergency Survival Guide

 

readyReady.gov has information on making a disaster plan, building an emergency kit and more.

 

 

 

Vial of Life LogoThe Vial of Life™ is a way for you to have your vital health information available to first responders. The Vial of Life™ containers can be placed on your refrigerator and contain a medical information card (click here to download a copy ) inside that can list prescriptions, medical conditions, allergies and other information important to your health care. Local first responders are trained to look for the Vial of Life™ when responding to an emergency. The Vial of Life™ containers are available free at local senior centers and the Area Agency on Aging office in Santa Maria.

Emergency Survival Guide Available

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The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens has released an Emergency Survival Guide for Older Adults. The guide provides information about things seniors can do to stay safe before, during and after major emergencies like fires, earthquakes and tsunami’s. As with all of the services provided by the Central Coast Commission for senior citizens, the information is free. Click below to view the guide:

Download-Emergency-Guide.jpg (290×40)

 

 

 

2024 Area Plan Listening Sessions

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The California Department of Aging and the 33 Area Agencies on Aging make up the California Aging Network. California 2030 was launched to develop strategies for a future-ready California Aging Network to meet the Master Plan for Aging (MPA) goals by 2030.

As the community and the Area Agency on Aging plan for a future-ready California, we review and consider viewpoints from both the State and local level. Asking are we working to
create an age-friendly community? We are inviting members of the community to review the MPA goals and how best they can address the local concerns and priorities.

Community Input Sought to Create “Senior Friendly” Communities

Come, share your insights to help ensure that limited federal monies are meeting the priorities of senior citizens and family caregivers through the work of the Area Agency on Aging.

Join us in the Listening Session via
Zoom or telephone conference
April 3, 2024
at 1:00 p.m.
Zoom ID: 858 7563 4810
Passcode: 054802
or
Left click HERE for direct access
Access the meeting by toll-free telephone

dial 1-833-548-0276

 

Request for Proposals For Senior Nutrition Services

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Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens Area Agency on Aging announces the release of   Request For Proposals for services authorized by the Older Americans Act and Older Californians Act. The services to be funded are:

Title IIIC : Congregate Nutrition

$243,432 for the provision of a minimum 37,800 meals to a minimum 500 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in San Luis Obispo County. The service provider must provide nutrition education. Funding is available 7/1/2024-6/30/2025.  100% of the funding is from federal sources.

$ 1,421 for the provision of 4 sessions of nutrition education presentations (provided quarterly) to 600 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in San Luis Obispo County.

Funding is available 7/1/2024-6/30/2025.  100% of the funding is from federal sources.  Full RFP Here

Title IIIC  Home Delivered Nutrition

$486,863. for the provision of a minimum 106,700 meals to a minimum 750 senior in San Luis Obispo County.  The service provider must provide nutrition education.  Funding is available 7/1/2024-6/30/2025.  100% of the funding is from federal sources. Full RFP Here

Older Adults Recovery and Resilience Act (OARR)- Intergenerational Activities

$469,857 for funding utilized intergenerational activities to support the goal of connecting older adults with children, youth, and adults through the senior nutrition programs. Funding through 6/30/2024.  Full RFP Here

Older Californians Act Nutrition Programs

$2,244,336 for funding Nutrition Services Programs under the OCA Modernization including the following: Brown Bag Nutrition Program, Grocery Services, Inter-generational Activities, Nutrition Infrastructure, Congregate Meals, Home Delivered Meals, and Restaurant Meal Program. Funding Available:  $273,711 for 7/1/2023-3/30/2026, $656,875 for 7/1/2024-3/30/2027, $656,875 for 7/1/2025-3/30/2028, and $656,875 for 7/1/2026-3/30/2029.  Full RFP Here

Applications for these services will be available at an Applicants Conference, Monday, December 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOM. To secure the link, contact the Area Agency on Aging.

Applications are due January 5, 2024 at 5PM PDT.

For additional information, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 805-925-9554 (option 6) or seniors@centralcoastseniors.org

Copies of the full RFP for each funding opportunity are available using the links below.

Public Comment Sought for Proposal Review Committee Report

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The CCCSC Board of Directors will be considering proposals for funding under the Modernizing the Older Californians Act.  The Proposal Review Committee is seeking public comment on the report of recommendation to the board.  You can view the RFP here, and the draft report here.

A meeting will be held on Wednesday August 6 at 1 pm VIA Zoom. To join use the information below.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83354244673

Meeting ID: 833 5424 4673

Welcome to the HICAP Podcast

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Learn all about Medicare enrollment from Host Jezlynne Robles and Program Manager Julie Posada.

Get an introduction to the HICAP program from Host Jezlynne Robles and Program Manager Julie Posada in our first Podcast.

Public Comment for Proposal Review Committee Report

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Public Comment sought on the Proposal Review Committee draft report for the Request for Proposal Released on April 14, 2023 which includes funds for Title IIIC  Senior Nutrition in Santa Barbara County and Title IIID Health Promotions for both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

See the report here: https://centralcoastseniors.org/wp-content/uploads/Preliminary-Draft-PRC-5.10.2023.pdf

The Public Comment session will be held on May 15, 2023 at 12pm via Zoom.  See link below.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87988228012?pwd=bFVOQkIvaXVURDBqWVB5eUpRWGdoUT09

Meeting ID: 879 8822 8012
Passcode: 165624

 

Public Comment Session for Proposal Review Committee Report 2023

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The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens is seeking public comments on the Proposal Review Committee report for the 203/24 Title III funding.  You can review the report using the link below.

Preliminary Draft PRC 4.17.2023

The meeting will be held via Zoom.

Time: Apr 17, 2023 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Or call in (669) 900 6833

Meeting ID: 812 5211 2386
Passcode: 565325

Attachments

Older Americans Month 2023 Award Nominations

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Help us find special people in both San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County!
The Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council will honor deserving people and one senior program in each county for the following categories:

• Senior Citizen of the Year
• Senior Worker of the Year
• Caregiver of the Year
• Senior Program of the Year

Nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 14, 2023.

Virtual Celebration and Presentations via Zoom:

Tuesday May 23, 2023 – 1pm.
Zoom Meeting ID: 828 3039 1451

Passcode: 513586

Request for Proposals 2023

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Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging announces the release of  Request For Proposals for services authorized by the Older Americans Act.

The services to be funded are:

Title IIIC : Congregate Nutrition

$687,775. for the provision of a minimum 91,703 meals to a minimum 350 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. The service provider must provide nutrition education.

$ 1,504. for the provision of 56 sessions of nutrition education presentations (provided quarterly) to 600 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County.

Title IIIC  Home Delivered Nutrition

$ 615,309. for the provision of a minimum 82,041 meals to a minimum 316 senior citizens in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara/ Goleta and Carpinteria.  The service provider must provide nutrition education.

 

Family Caregiver Support Program – Respite Care services

$145,565. is available for the provision of care receiver services by an appropriately skilled provider or volunteer in order to prevent wandering and health or safety incidents in the instance when an eligible caregiver is not present.

 

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Title IIID)

$ 41,330 is available for the provision of an evidence-based health promotion program, including programs related to the prevention and mitigation of the effects of chronic disease (including, but not limited to, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), alcohol and substance abuse reduction, smoking cessation, weight loss and control, stress management, falls prevention, physical activity, and improved nutrition. For a list of ACL approved Evidence-Based programs, please visit the National Council on Aging website at https://www.ncoa.org/resources/ebpchart. Unit of service: One (1) contact.

 

Applications for these services will be available at an Applicants Conference, Friday, February 10, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. via ZOOM. To secure the link, contact the Area Agency on Aging.

Applications are due March 16, 2023 at 5PM PDT.

For additional information, contact the

Area Agency on Aging at 805-925-9554 (option 6) or aaron.pankratz@centralcoastseniors.org

2022 Elder Needs Assessment Available

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Identification of the needs of senior citizens and family caregivers in our region is an important task of the Area Agency on Aging. The Older Americans Act establishes a goal that the Area Agency on Aging prepare an assessment of the needs every four years. This is then to assist the Area Agency on Aging in their development of an action plan, known as the Area Plan.

To accomplish this important task, the Area Agency on Aging engages the community as well as its internal resources. The internal resources include the Advisory Council, Board of Directors members and staff. The members of the Advisory Council and Board of Directors revised the survey tool used four years ago. This was done to allow for comparison with prior results.
Members of the Council, Board and staff also worked to ensure geographical representation and made efforts to reach all populations of older persons and family caregivers. This year’s efforts achieved responses from several target populations.

A needs assessment is a way to determine if the Area Agency on Aging is on track – are we addressing the identified needs? With responses from over 900 local senior citizens, it is comforting to know that our work to ensure the independence of older persons through effective community services is on target.

Based on projections, by the Year 2030, 29% of the County of San Luis Obispo population will be over 60 years and 27% of the County of Santa Barbara County will be over age 60. This is a 61% increase from 2010. As a result, the Area Agency on Aging plan now for not only the needs current needs of seniors, but also the needs of the future.

It is important to acknowledge that there are many partners who we will work with to continue the work of the Older Americans Act and continue to meet the needs in the coming decades. Together we will develop a vision for our community that ensures independence, dignity and safety – the hallmark of the Older Americans Act.

Senior citizens in the Central Coast have spoken. We are listening. On behalf of the Area Agency on Aging I want to affirm to this community, that the Area Agency on Aging is committed to building a ‘senior friendly’ community.

Gary Suter
Executive Director

REVIEW THE REPORT

Public Comment Session for Proposal Review Committee Report

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Seeking public comment on the draft Proposal Review Committee report.  Session will be help via Zoom and teleconference(details at the bottom of the post).

The committee review proposals for following RFP:

Elder Abuse Prevention (Title VIIB)

$ 8,200 for the provision of elder abuse prevention services, including the coordination of county based Elder Abuse Prevention Councils in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. This includes public education and training of professionals to develop, strengthen, and carry out programs for the prevention, detection, assessment, and treatment of, intervention in, investigation of, and response to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including financial exploitation). This includes training for Title III E caregivers. Unit of service: one session.

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Title IIID)

$ 40,000 for the provision of an evidence-based health promotion program, including programs related to the prevention and mitigation of the effects of chronic disease (including, but not limited to, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease), alcohol and substance abuse reduction, smoking cessation, weight loss and control, stress management, falls prevention, physical activity, and improved nutrition. For a list of ACL approved Evidence-Based programs, please visit the National Council on Aging website at https://www.ncoa.org/resources/ebpchart. Unit of service: One (1) contact.

Title IIIB Legal Assistance in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties

$42,000 for the provision of 850 hours of services to 250 senior citizens.  This includes legal advice, counseling and/or representation by an attorney or other person acting under the supervision of an attorney.

Title IIIC : Congregate Nutrition

$ 245,000. for the provision of a minimum 47,674 meals to a minimum 250 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in Santa Barbara County. The service provider must provide nutrition education.

$ 1,504. for the provision of 56 sessions of nutrition education presentations (provided quarterly) to 600 senior citizens at the congregate nutrition sites in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County.

Title IIIC  Home Delivered Nutrition

$ 466,650. for the provision of a minimum 89,000 meals to a minimum 350 senior citizens in Santa Barbara County.  The service provider must provide nutrition education.

The comment session will be help on June 16, 2022 at 10AM and continue until all comments have been heard.  If you are unable to attend you can share your comment by email aaron.pankratz@centralcoastseniors.org or mail Proposal Review Committee, 528 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

Draft Report: PRC Report Preliminary Draft

Zoom meeting info
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87942776131

Meeting ID: 879 4277 6131
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Attachments

Contact your CSL Representative

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California

Senior

Legislature

 

The California Senior Legislature is a volunteer body whose primary mission is to gather ideas for legislation at the state and federal levels, craft the ideas into formal proposals, prioritize the proposals, present them to members of the Legislature or the Congress, and advocate for laws implementing the ideas.

 

Your Representative:

Anne McCracken,CSL

CA Senior Legislature

AnneHelps1@gmail.com

www.4csl.org

Requests for Proposals Sought for 2022/23

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Area Agency on Aging for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties announces the availability of Requests for Proposal (link to flyer) to fund services for older adults and family caregivers in Fiscal Year 2022/23 through monies from the Older Americans Act.

“The Area Agency on Aging is responsible for the allocation of monies from the Older Americans Act,” announced Christine Reynolds, President, Board of Directors, Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens. “Funds from these Requests for Proposal will fund elder abuse prevention, elderly nutrition services (congregate, home delivered meals and nutrition education), senior legal services and health promotion.”

“This funding is designed to increase awareness of elder abuse and prevention strategies as well as training for local professionals and family caregivers, continued Ms. Reynolds . “Every week we learn of new financial scams and incidences of physical or emotional abuse among senior citizens and dependent adults in our two- county region. It is estimated that one in fourteen senior citizens is abused each year in the United States. All persons are at-risk.”

“Monies are available for nutrition services, specifically home delivered meals, meals in congregate community settings and nutrition education,” continued Ms. Reynolds. “It is reported that in 2016, nearly 8.6 million older Americans faced the threat of hunger, representing 13.6% of adults aged 60+ in the U.S. Food insecurity is growing among older adults. The food insecurity rate for all senior households was 7.8% in 2016,” continued Ms. Reynolds.

“Locally, the 2018 Elder Needs Assessment survey conducted by this Area Agency On Aging revealed nutrition needs were among the top three needs identified by over 1,100 senior citizens,” continued Ms. Reynolds. Currently the Older Americans Act funds over 300,000 balanced nutritious meals in this two-county region.

“Eligible organizations are invited to an Applicant’s Conference on Thursday, February 17, 2022 to learn more the application process and the expectations.”

For more information please contact the Area Agency on Aging at 805-925-9554 or seniors@centralcoastseniors.org.
X X X

PRESS RELEASE red Rubber Stamp over a white background.

2021 Listening Session Recordings

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The following videos are recordings from the public comment sessions held in April and May of 2021.

Listening Session: Inclusion and Equity

Listening Session: Affording Aging

Listening Sessions: Caregiving

Listening Sessions: Health

Listening Session: Housing

New Board of Directors Officers and Member

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March 9, 2021                                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The Board of Directors of the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens has elected new officers and a new member.

 Newly elected officers include: Randall Harris of San Luis Obispo as President, Christine McReynolds of Lompoc as Secretary and e. Howard Green of Santa Barbara as Treasurer.

 “In addition, we are delighted to have Robert Spector of San Luis Obispo join the Board and bring his experience and knowledge,” stated Randall Harris, President, Board of Directors.  “Mr. Spector  has developed and guided major community and social service initiatives to award-winning success throughout the United States.  He has served as consultant to a range of private sector, public, and non-profit organizations nationally.  He is an expert on issues such as community organization, marketing, strategic planning, customer service, entrepreneurism, digital media, and program planning for targeted populations.”

“Needs of senior citizens have increased significantly through this COVID19 pandemic period,” continued Mr. Harris. “As President of this Board, Board members work to ensure prudent expenditure of limited public funds to address the need for services for the frail and vulnerable seniors in our community.”

“The allocation of increased Older Americans Act monies from several federal stimulus monies has allowed the Area Agency on Aging to significantly increase funding for nutritious meals and mental health services for frail, at-risk older persons in this two-county area.”

The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens serves as the Area Agency on Aging, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), and Senior Information and Referral Program for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. As the Area Agency on Aging the agency is responsible for the allocation of monies from the Older Americans Act.

“There are vacancies on the Board of Directors and the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council,” continued Mr. Harris. ‘Anyone interested in working with us to address the needs of senior citizens are invited to contact us and join us in our efforts.”

 For more information, please telephone (805) 925-9554, or 1-800-510-2020 or contact us at info@centralcoastseniors.org

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