Dec. 9th Zumba Master Class to benefit Pottstown Olivet Boys & Girls Club

SAVE THE DATE!

On Sunday, December 9th from 1-3 pm, Remi and Star are hosting a Charity Zumba Master class at The Ballroom on High to benefit Pottstown youth! The 2-hour Zumba party that day will benefit the Olivet Boys and Girls Club, Pottstown Chapter.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS ZUMBATHON CHARITY EVENT! CHECK OUT THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE!
Remi and Star believe in giving back to the community that has supported a Salsa and Zumba program for 4 years. This is why this Zumbathon charity event is so important for them – because they feel they are contributing to the future of their town. They are making a difference and so can you.Doors open at 12:30 pm. Zumba class will be from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. You can dance as much or as little as you like. You do not have to dance the entire event.

Tickets sold in class $15 in advance/$20 at the door. If you cannot attend, but would like to make a donation, please contact Star or Remi.The Olivet Boys & Girls Club programs address Pottstown’s most pressing youth issues, each one focusing on teaching youth the skills they need to succeed in life. They fall under five main areas: Character and Leadership Development; the Arts; Education and Career Development; Sports, Fitness and Recreation; and Health and Life Skills.

Through their programs, they are helping to empower the youth of Pottstown to make positive choices in their lives and resist negative influences. Check out what they have to offer: http://www.olivetbgc.org/programs.htm

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADVANCED ZUMBATHON TICKETS, SEE REMI OR STAR AT ANY OF THEIR ZUMBA CLASSES AT THE BALLROOM ON HIGH. Same goes for donating a door prize to this event. CLASSES ARE MONDAYS AT 6 PM, THURSDAYS AT 7 PM, AND SATURDAYS AT 10 AM.

75% of your ticket fee is donated to Olivet Boys and Girls Club.

Donations of any amount will be happily accepted too. For now, help spread the word!

Last chance to see historic art exhibit at ArtFusion 19464!

JANET BRAUN REINITZ by Charlotta Janssen

The historic Threads of a Story art exhibit at ArtFusion 19464 will end this Saturday, October 27th at 3pm. Hundreds of Pottstown area school children and visitors of all ages have witnessed these portraits of the Freedom Riders from 1961 and the Bus Boycotters from 1956 during the Civil Rights era.

From ArtFusion’s website: “This show features the work of Charlotta Janssen, who was inspired from mug shots of famous–and not famous–people arrested during the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s, demanding desegregation and equal rights for all.  Ms. Janssen appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 4, 2011, showcasing her work, during Oprah’s tribute to the Freedom Riders.  Her work is displayed and collected nationally and internationally. For more information on this show, please click here.”

ArtFusion 19464 Hours

Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

Location

254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA 19464

Phone

610.326.2506

Email

info@artfusion19464.org

Pottstown Y hosts 22nd annual Halloween Safehouse

The Freedom Valley YMCA at Pottstown, Adams & Jackson Streets, will host its 22nd Annual Y Cares Halloween Safehouse Treat Trail on Friday, October 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.mEntrance to the event is behind the YMCA on Grant Street.

Open to children 12 & under accompanied by an adult, this fun event provides a safe trick or treat environment for area children, while supporting the  community.     

 Admission is a donation to support the Y Cares Financial Assistance Program.

The Treat Trail, provided by local organizations, businesses and volunteers, will include music by Pure Fun Entertainment.  This year’s theme: “YOU can be a Superhero”.

To learn more about this Pottstown Halloween tradition, contact Jane at 610-323-7300 ext 10 or jalan@fvymca.org.

See Phillie Phanatic in Pottstown’s Halloween parade tonight!

According to The Mercury, the Phillie Phanatic will be at tonight’s Halloween Parade, which begins at 7 pm at Goodwill Fire Company and ends at Borough Hall. (Goodwill is at 714 E. High Street.)

Other entertainment includes the Boyertown Alumni Band and  the Pottstown and Pottsgrove middle and high school marching bands.

Everyone in the Pottstown region is invited to come out, watch, and participate in this SPOOKTACULAR hometown event!

“Blithe Spirit” brings witty fun to Main Stage at Steel River Playhouse

I got to spend last Friday night enjoying the clever writing of British playwright Noel Coward and the accents and acting of a superb cast of regional actors, thanks to a complimentary ticket to the opening performance of the play Blithe Spirit at Steel River Playhouse in downtown Pottstown.

Before the play even begins, the audience gets a feel for the comedy that’s about to ensue when the typical announcements (about turning off your cell phone and not eating candy wrapped in that annoying crinkly cellophane) are made by an otherworldly British voice, purported to be coming from the ghost of Noel Coward, the playwright himself. Between that and the classy, mood-setting music of harpist Betsy Chapman, the audience is primed when the set lights up and we are in a quintessential gorgeous Victorian-style living room in the home of Ruth and Charles Condomine of Kent, England. It’s hard miss the dramatic and sensual portrait of a red-haired woman above the mantelpiece.

The set-up is marvelous: Ruth and Charles have invited a local medium to a dinner party with another couple so that Charles can do some research for a mystery he’s writing. (Yes, writers really do stuff like that – anything for a story.) Before their guests arrive, we’re treated to some physical comedy from their hyperactive maid, Edith, relentlessly portrayed by Rebecca Shoemaker. We also learn that the woman above the mantelpiece is Charles’ deceased first wife, Elvira,  he’s still got a thing for her, and his current wife is not oblivious to that. Their guests, Dr. and Mrs. Bradman, arrive and then the stage really lights up when the colorful Madame Arcati enters. Played by Steel River’s Artistic Director and co-founder, Deborah Stimson-Snow, Madame Arcati keeps the energy and the comedy rolling for the rest of the evening.

When she conjures up the spirit of Elvira, and Charles is the only one who can hear or see her, we know instantly that trouble is on the immediate horizon for his relationship with Ruth, his current wife. There is a hilarious and long exchange between Charles and Ruth and Charles and Elvira – a literary love triangle – near the end of the first act in which everything he says to Elvira is incorrectly interpreted by Ruth until she goes off to bed in a huff. This delicious bit of writing is carried off without a hitch by Jennifer Dinan (Ruth), Carl Heyde (Charles), and Tara McFalls (Elvira). Now, try to imagine hearing me say in a British accent: This is terribly funny.

As you might expect, Elvira is trouble – not unlike the ghost or the embodiment of any former lover who intrudes upon a current relationship. As Charles and Ruth try to rid themselves of her presence and influence, things get royally botched. I hope I’m not delivering any spoilers here when I say that after several twists and turns of the plot, it becomes apparent that the spirits of these three characters will never be completely disentangled.

I loved this play! It’s loads of fun, the writing, acting, music, set design, and costumes are stellar. The Pottstown region is very fortunate to have Steel River Playhouse in its midst, bringing  outstanding drama to the suburbs of southeastern Pennsylvania. Blithe Spirit runs just two more weekends – this weekend and next – so make your plans and get your tickets now. Cheers!

The remaining performances of Blithe Spirit will take place Thursdays (October 18 and 25 at 7:30PM), Fridays (October 19 and 26 at 8PM), Saturdays (October 20 and 27 at 8PM) and Sundays (October 21 and 28 at 3PM) on the Main Stage. Tickets range from $17-$23. More information and a ticketing link are available at www.steelriver.org or by calling 610.970.1199.

About Steel River Playhouse

Formerly Tri-County Performing Arts Center (Tri-PAC), Steel River Playhouse seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and education for diverse audiences. Each year, the Steel River Playhouse produces more than 90 performances and hosts more than 10,000 people as audiences, students, artists, donors and volunteers from throughout the region. We offer performance opportunities through open auditions; theater technical training; acting, voice, and instrumental lessons; classes and workshops for all ages; summer camp programs; and educational outreach including scholarships, artists in the classroom, traveling children’s shows, and other initiatives. For further information, visit http://www.steelriver.org, or call 610-970-1199.

Book Signing at ArtFusion 19464 this Saturday

 MOSAIC Community Land Trust and ArtFusion 19464 have teamed up to host Ralph E. Godbolt, author of Kickin’ the Ballistics:  Reflections on the Hip Hop Generation, Poverty and Power. He will speak this Saturday night at ArtFusion, formerly the Gallery on High. 

Author Ralph Godbolt will discuss his book and the realities of urban violence, the high school drop out crisis, misogyny, the war on drugs, sexual orientation and the Hip Hop Generation in the aftermath of the American Civil Rights Movement. “He takes aim at generations of harsh public policies, unequal access to opportunity and discriminatory practices that has led to a generational cycle of poverty, violence, addiction, under education and unemployment in America’s urban centers by using Hip Hop culture and rap music as a means to communicate the deep despair, but enduring faith of young urban Americans.”

The book signing and talk will take place this Saturday, October 20th, 7– 9 PM at 254 E. High St., Pottstown, Pa. Light refreshments will Be Served.  A portion of the proceeds from each book sold will be donated to both  MOSAIC and ArtFusion.

Grace Lutheran holding Premier Designs Jewelry fundraiser for Relay for Life

Grace Lutheran’s Relay for Life team “Amazing Grace” is having a Premier Designs Jewelry fundraiser.  Details below:
Premier Designs Jewelry Autumn Gala Open House  
Saturday October 20th from 1-3pm hosted by
Grace Lutheran Church Relay for Life team “Amazing Grace”
660 N. Charlotte Street
Pottstown, PA  19464
There will be raffles, door prizes and light refreshments!
Proceeds benefit the Relay for Life team “Amazing Grace”

Comedy classic, BLITHE SPIRIT, opens October 11 at Steel River Playhouse

Blithe Spirit, one of Sir Noel Coward’s enduring comedy classics, opens at the Steel River Playhouse this Thursday, October 11.

This oft-revived smash comedy hit of London, Broadway and stages everywhere asks, “What happens when your late first wife comes back as a ghost and your second wife isn’t happy with the spooky, meddling houseguest?” 

In Coward’s Blithe Spirit, gentleman and writer, Charles Condomine gets himself into this pickle when, as research for his next book, The Unseen, he dismissively arranges for a séance by a local medium.  When the ghost of his first wife nevertheless appears, alternately and desperately, he tries to make peace, “Why can’t we all get along?,” or to return things to the way they were.  Coward and his characters are forthright, frank and witty.  As a result, audiences revel in the unintended consequences and surprises unleashed as relationship  secrets take center stage.

While Blithe Spirit is very funny and lighthearted,  Coward had a serious intent while writing it.  A great celebrity in his day as an actor, playwright, songwriter and style-maker, Coward also was a patriot, helping Great Britain during some of its darkest wartime hours in 1941.  He wrote Blithe Spirit and got it produced quickly to lift the spirits of his countrymen.  It delighted audiences throughout the war, especially soldiers about to ship out.  Coward’s great wit, his writing, and his Shakespearean sense for tormenting his characters make his work as funny and appealing today as it was in wartime Great Britain.

Blithe Spirit will be performed Thursdays (October 11, 18, 25 at 7:30PM), Fridays (October 12, 19, 26 at 8PM), Saturdays (October 13, 20, 27 at 8PM) and Sundays (October 14, 21, 28 at 3PM) on the Main Stage.  Special Event: Sunday, October 14 – Talkback with the director and cast.   Tickets range from $17-$23.  More information and a ticketing link are available at www.steelriver.org or by calling 610.970.1199.

 

About Steel River Playhouse

Formerly Tri-County Performing Arts Center (Tri-PAC), Steel River Playhouse seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and education for diverse audiences.  Each year, the Steel River Playhouse produces more than 90 performances and hosts more than 10,000 people as audiences, students, artists, donors and volunteers from throughout the region. We offer performance opportunities through open auditions; theater technical training; acting, voice, and instrumental lessons; classes and workshops for all ages; summer camp programs; and educational outreach including scholarships, artists in the classroom, traveling children’s shows, and other initiatives. For further information, visit www.steelriver.org, or call 610-970-1199.

Calling all singers, musicians & actors in grades 9-12: Win $1,000!

The Rotary Club of Pottstown has teamed up with the support of the Steel River Playhouse and The High Street Music Company to sponsor a special talent competition.

The Rotary Club is seeking students from grades 9 through 12 to participate in the competition, which will be held Nov. 9. There will be three performance categories in which students can compete – vocal, instrumental and acting. Please submit your completed Entry Form NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2012.

Students from Pottstown and all of the surrounding school districts, public, private and parochial schools are eligible and invited to participate in this event. Entry is free.

The Rotary Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to the winner in each category. Honorable mention awards sponsored by the Steel River Playhouse and the High Street Music Company will also be presented.

For an application and the performing guidelines, please go to The Rotary Club of Pottstown’s website at: www.pottstownrotary.org. You can also see the details below. Please submit your completed Entry Form NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2012.

PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Pottstown

Nov. 2, 2012through Nov. 9, 2012

For Students in Grades 9 through 12

ELIGIBILITY

The scholarship competition is open to all students in Grades 9 through 12, including homeschoolers of applicable age.

HOW TO ENTER/DEADLINES

Audition appointments are strongly encouraged by submission of your Entry Form no later than October 15, 2012 to: Pottstown Rotary Club, Performing Arts Competition, P. O. Box 20, Parkerford, PA. 19457-9905. Walk-ins will be seen during Preliminary Auditions only, if time allows. All entrants much submit a completed Entry Form, including parent/legal guardian signature if under 18, in order to participate in the competition.

 

AWARDS

$1,000 Instrumental Music Scholarship

$1,000 Vocal Scholarship

$1,000 Drama Scholarship.

Runner-Ups will receive prized sponsored by the Steel River Playhouse (formerly Tri-PAC ) and High Street Music.

Note: Scholarship money must be used for performing arts education with any private instructor, group class, summer camp program, or college coursework.

DATES/TIMES/LOCATION

Both the Preliminary Auditions and Finals will be held at the Steel River Playhouse (formerly Tri-County Performing Arts Center), 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464

Audition appointments are strongly encouraged and will be assigned after submission of your Entry Form.  Walk-ins will be seen during Preliminary Auditions only, if time allows. After completion of the Preliminary Auditions, a select number of entrants will be invited to participate in the Public Presentation to compete for scholarships and other awards.

All entrants are invited to attend the Public Presentation free of charge, and will have the opportunity to receive direct feedback from the evaluators immediately following the event.

Preliminary Auditions (Entrants need only be present at one of the specified days for audition):

Friday, November 2, 2012 (4:00 – 7:00 pm)

Saturday, November 3, 2012 (2:30 – 6:00 pm)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (6:00 – 9:00 pm)

Public Presentation (Finals): Friday, November 9, 2012 (7:00 – 10:00 pm)

Admission $8

Note: admission is free of charge for all students who participated in the competition, and for children age 12 and under.

COMPETITION CATEGORIES AND REQUIREMENTS

The scholarship competition is open to solo artists only; no group numbers please. Rules for each category are listed below. All entrants may bring a headshot or recent photo, or we will take your photo on arrival. You may also bring a typed resume listing your training and experience, although this is not required. BE PREPARED FOR AN INTERVIEW IN THEIR PRELIMINARY AUDITION, AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE DIRECTION TO SEE IF YOU CAN LISTEN AND ARE DIRECTABLE.

ocal: Perform 32 bars (not including intro measures) of a ballad from any musical genre/style (e.g., Broadway, jazz, pop, country, classical); however, be prepared to perform more if requested by the evaluators. Your selection must be memorized.  You may bring your own accompanist. Alternatively, a CD player will be available to you. If using the accompanist, bring one copy of your sheet music in the correct key, with all cuts or repetitions clearly marked.  If using a CD player or other electronic devices, you may bring a track with instrumental music only (no vocals). A cappella singing is not permitted. Recommended: bring a second copy of your sheet music for the evaluators.

Acting: Perform 1 contemporary monologue of any type, memorized, maximum of 90 seconds. Please do not perform works of Shakespeare or his friends (contemporaries). Hand props are permitted but no full costumes or set pieces. 2 chairs will be available for use (please don’t stand on or throw the chairs as part of your presentation). Be prepared to answer questions about your monologue.

Instrumental: Perform 32 bars of music from any genre/style; however, be prepared to play more if requested by the evaluators. Your selection must be memorized. Although only the soloist will be evaluated, you may bring up to 2 additional instrumentalists as accompaniment for your solo work, or you may bring a music track. No vocals are permitted and any instrumental accompaniment must be a different instrument than that of the soloist. A CD player and a 2-plug outlet will be made available.

 

EVALUATION PROCESS

 Preliminary Auditions: Entrants will be evaluated during the preliminary auditions by instructors and staff of the Steel River Playhouse (formerly Tri-County Performing Arts Center) and High Street Music using a standardized evaluation form, in order to determine who will progress to the Final Presentations. Rooms will be provided for you to warm up and change your clothes, if needed. Preliminary auditions are closed to the public. Finalists will be announced via email or website posting upon completion of the all Preliminary Auditions, no later than Thursday morning, November 8, 2012. All entrants are encouraged to attend the Final Presentations to support their fellow students, receive direct feedback and written evaluations, and enjoy a special reception in honor of their participation in the competition.

Final Presentations: Finalists will perform their complete audition pieces for the public and for evaluators on Friday, November 9, 2012, starting at 7:00 pm. Finalists are asked to report no later than 6:00 pm that evening, to prepare. Rooms will be provided for you to warm up and change your clothes, if needed. Presentations will be grouped in the following order: (1) instrumental, (2) monologue, and (3) vocal. Finalists must perform the same piece and wear the same attire as presented during the Preliminary Auditions. Evaluators for the Final Presentation may include the Steel River Playhouse (formerly Tri-PAC ) and High Street Music instructors and staff, and/or may include other professional artists and instructors from the area. There will be a brief intermission after each category of finalists, so that evaluators may confer. Scholarships winners for all categories will be announced at the end of the evening, after all finalists have presented their work.

PREPARATION AND AUDITION TIPS

  • What you wear matters! Think about how your outfit enhances your overall presentation.
  • Choose material that is appropriate for your age and prepare thoroughly. Seek assistance from your teachers, choir and band directors, or others in the community who can provide help.
  • Actors – make sure your monologue is from a published work, and read the complete work to understand the context. Do not use a teen monologue book.
  • Vocalists – choose work that sits well within your vocal range and shows your best singing technique.
  • When entering the room, wait until the evaluators have completed their notes from the prior candidate before introducing yourself and your piece. Vocalists and Instrumentalists should confer with the accompanist or set up their CD or instrumental accompaniment immediately upon entering the room, in order to be completely set up before addressing the evaluators.
  • When performing, don’t look directly at the evaluators (it can make them uncomfortable). They will be listening and taking notes, and are not part of your performance.
  • Don’t offer to shake the hand of the accompanist or evaluators unless they offer it first.
  • Once the audition is over, thank the evaluators and the accompanist before leaving the room.

On-line Assistance: Please take a look at these websites and research others to learn more about selecting audition material and audition etiquette. Also you can check out sheet music websites to find music for your song choice (make sure it’s in the right key!), and can find a variety of karaoke instrumental tracks on Youtube.

http://theatre.psu.edu/programs/mt/auditiontips

http://www.drama.cmu.edu/news/view/67

http://youngadults.about.com/od/collegeprep/a/auditions.htm

http://www.oberlin.edu/career/students/documents/AuditionsGuide6.09.pdf

Application below:

Please print and submit your completed Entry Form NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2012 to: 

Pottstown Rotary Club, Performing Arts Competition, P. O. Box 20, Parkerford, PA. 19457-9905.  

ROTARY CLUB OF POTTSTOWN

PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION

ENTRY FORM

Nov. 2, 2012through Nov. 9, 2012

For Students in Grades 9 through 12

 Student Name: Phone:
 Address:
 Email:
Birth Date (include year): Current Age: Current Grade:
 Current Performing Arts Instructor/s:
 Emergency Contact:
Address: Phone:

Competition Category: Please check the talent category(ies) in which you wish to compete. Refer to Competition rules for a complete understanding of the categories before selecting.

 

Voice: Acting (monologue) Instrumental:

Brief Description of Your Talent and Skills: (for example, type of instrument, number of years, type of training and performance experience, if any:

Audition Date: Preliminary Auditions take place Friday, November 2, 2012 (4:00 – 7:00 pm), Saturday, November 3, 2012 (2:30 – 6:00 pm), and Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (6:00 – 9:00 pm) at the Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA . There are a limited number of audition slots for each category. Audition appointments are strongly encouraged by submission of your Entry Form no later than October 15, 2012. Walk-ins will be seen during Preliminary Auditions only, if time allows.

Please indicate your 1st and 2nd choice for an audition date and time (allow for at least 1 hour of availability in case of audition delays). You will be notified of your audition time by email.

1st Choice: 2nd Choice:

Note: the Public Presentation (Finals) will take place Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 (7:00 – 10:00 pm) at the Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA . All entrants are encouraged to attend the Final Presentations to support their fellow students, receive direct feedback and written evaluations, and enjoy a special reception in honor of their participation in the competition.

Permission to Compete (required for students under age 18):

 

I,                                                                             as parent/legal guardian of the above-named minor, do hereby give my permission for said minor to participate in the Rotary of Pottstown Performing Arts Scholarship Competition.

Name (print): Phone:
Signature: Email:

Representation and Release: By signing below (or by Parent or Legal Guardian signing below, in the case of a minor, on both the Parent’s or Legal Guardian’s as well as the minor child’s behalf), I agree to the following:

In consideration of the Rotary Club of Pottstown, the Steel River Playhouse (formerly Village Productions (Tri-PAC), and High Street Music (separately and collectively referred to as the “Parties”) allowing me to compete in the Rotary Club of Pottstown Performing Arts Scholarship Competition (the “Event”), I hereby agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless the Parties (and their officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and Board members), from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, losses or expenses, including attorneys’ fees, and including any injury to myself or another party, associated with my participation in the Event (including but not limited to those arising in connection with use of any facilities, as well as those arising from a third party due to my own conduct). I hereby authorize the Parties to use any photographs and/or media recordings in which I appear, for any purpose including but not limited to promotional purposes and release via the internet and/or other media outlets, without further notice, permission, or compensation. I hereby grant the Parties (and their officers, employees, agents, volunteers, independent contractors, and Board members), permission, in their discretion, to release medical information to the program staff or others deemed necessary and in my interests, and to seek and authorize emergency medical treatment for me, and I hereby agree to assume all medical costs incurred. I hereby agree to abide by all the rules of this competition, and acknowledge that all decisions of the Evaluators are final.  I further agree that if any part of this agreement is found by a court or other appropriate authority to be invalid, the remainder of the agreement nevertheless will remain in full force and effect. I further acknowledge that I have read and understood this Representation and Release, and voluntarily agree to be legally bound by its terms.

Signature of Student: Date:
Signature of Parent/Legal Guardian (for students under age 18):
Date:

Please submit your completed Entry Form NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 15, 2012 to: 

Pottstown Rotary Club, Performing Arts Competition, P. O. Box 20, Parkerford, PA. 19457-9905.  

MOSAIC open mic is back!

HAPPY FALL!

The open mic is back on Saturday October 6th, from 7-11 pm at MOSAIC Community Land Trust gallery at 10 S. Hanover Street in the heart of Pottstown!

Musicians, Poets, Comedians, you name it! Come and get your 15 minutes (or three songs) worth of fame!

(I’ll be there reading something or other.)

Check it out on Facebook here.

Contact Alan Jensen-Sellers at 267-244-3195 with any questions.

This event is BYOB.

Suggested donation to help support the MOSAIC Community Land Trust is $5.00.

MOSAIC CLT has a mission to increase home ownership in Pottstown,

to improve healthy living through community gardens,

and to support the arts.

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