HOW TO RESERVE PARKING AT WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TRAVELING OVER THANKSGIVING

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Reservations are NOT accepted over the phone. Customers must reserve via the website at:

https://www.westchestercountyairportparking.com/

This link is found from the County airport website by going to: Airport link at the bottom of “Departments” tab

–          Departments

–          Westchester County Airport (way bottom)

–          Ground Transportation (left side bookmarks)

–          Parking Areas (left side bookmarks)

–          Only link there under “Airport Overflow Lot”

On-airport parking phone number for customer service (NOT reserving parking):

914-946-0843. Available 4:30am to last arriving flight (with enough time for customers to get through front of terminal).

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RSV,COVID, FLU HIT EPIDEMIC LEVELS NATIONWIDE, YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST WARNS

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FLU IS BACK

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Flu season starts + important recall

Influenza-like illness exceeds baseline. Cinnamon applesauce pouches recalled due to lead contamination.

Good morning! I am writing with a quick, mid-week update of Outbreak Outlook to share some important information.

Influenza-like illness

I was not able to include influenza-like illness (ILI) in my update on Monday because of delays due to the Veteran’s Day holiday. Well, ILI data has now been released, and it confirms that we have crossed the threshold that marks the onset of flu season.

As of the week ending November 4, 2.9% of doctor visits nationwide were for symptoms like fever, cough, or sore throat, up from 2.7% the previous week. This is the second earliest start of the flu season in the past six years.

As usual, children aged 0-4 are the most affected, with 9.3% of their doctor visits being for ILI symptoms. The next most affected age group is people aged 5-24, with 4.7% of doctor visits for ILI symptoms. For older age groups, the percentage of doctor visits for ILI symptoms is 2.2% or lower.

Source: CDC

The Southern region is most affected, with multiple states in the Southeast experiencing “high” or “moderate” levels of ILI. In Florida, for example, around 5% of visits to the doctor were for ILI symptoms. In Georgia, it’s 4.3%.

Alaska, Puerto Rico, and New Mexico are also seeing high levels of activity. In fact, Puerto Rico has declared an influenza epidemic following the hospitalization of at least 1,048 people due to flu. Around half of cases (not hospitalizations, but cases) are in children. Puerto Rico has also already recorded 42 deaths, mostly in unvaccinated older adults.

I suspect that other areas in the U.S., currently showing “low” ILI activity, will see an increase in the upcoming weeks. Get your flu vaccine if you are among the 65% of adults who has not done so yet!

Source: CDC

Important recall

I also want to highlight a significant recall of cinnamon applesauce pouches. While I’ve mentioned this recall in my recent weekly updates, new information has emerged that underscore the recall’s importance.

Several brands of cinnamon applesauce squeeze pouches are being recalled due to dangerously high levels of lead. So far, at least 22 toddlers across 14 states have suffered from lead poisoning from these pouches. The brands currently known to be affected are WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis. However, as investigators continue to trace the source of the contamination, more affected products may be identified.

Lead poisoning is not always obvious. If you think your child has eaten an affected product, talk to your pediatrician about a blood lead test.


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VACCINATIONS DROP. MORE INFECTIONS OF PREVIOUSLY IRRADICATED DISEASES EXPECTED

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Si quiere leer la versión en español, pulse aquí.


Drop in routine vaccinations

Driven by an increase in vaccine exemptions and misinformation.

CDC released the latest vaccine exemptions and routine vaccination rates data for last school year. This, coupled with new data on growing acceptance of vaccine misinformation, shows a slow, painful bleed.

Here’s the data story.

Routine vaccinations decline

A few years ago, rates of routine vaccines (i.e., DTaP, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio) began to decline. Last school year, vaccine coverage among kindergarten students hit a new low—93%.

This seems high. It is high. But we must keep it that way because some diseases, like measles, require 95% coverage to maintain herd immunity.

Unfortunately, concerning trends are developing on a state level. For example, thirty-six states are below the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) coverage threshold of 95% for kindergarteners. The state with the lowest vaccination rate is Idaho (81%). This means 250,000 kindergartners are at risk for measles infection today.

This provides large pockets of unvaccinated people—a breeding ground for infectious diseases. Take Ohio, for example, which had the 9th lowest coverage in MMR vaccination last year. It’s no coincidence that there was a measles outbreak last year—85 children got sick, and 36 were hospitalized.

The role of exemptions

School mandatory vaccination is one the biggest drivers of vaccination. Exemptions—parents opting out for medical or non-medical reasons—are low (3%) but rapidly increasingNon-medical exemptions—for religious or philosophical reasons—are driving the change. Research shows that non-medical exemptions are more common in areas with a higher percentage of a White population and higher income.

Ten states have exemptions exceeding 5% of kindergartners. Idaho has by far the highest exemption rate at 12%.

The states with the fastest-growing rate of vaccine exemptions are Hawaii, Idaho, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Oregon. This acceleration started in 2020 and hasn’t slowed.

Five states do not allow non-medical exemptions. For example, after the massive Disneyland measles outbreak in 2015, California eliminated non-medical exemptions from school-entry vaccination requirements. While some parents found workarounds, this policy change had an overall direct impact on exemptions. Maine has a similar story.

What is indirectly causing a decline in vaccinations?

Misinformation is increasing. Our information landscape has dramatically changed—false news spreads 6 times faster than the truth on social media, and 70% of Americans get health news on social media. Public health has not kept up.

This is directly impacting behaviors like getting vaccinated. A recent Annenberg report asked Americans whether certain statements about vaccines were true. They found a consistent theme: a growing acceptance of vaccine misinformation. For example, 1 in 8 people believe there are toxins, like antifreeze, in vaccines.

Loss of trust in institutions also drives misinformation and behaviors. This isn’t unique to public health but will surely have dire consequences to communities.

Disruption in care. During the pandemic, many children missed their regular doctor visits and thus missed their vaccines. Routine vaccination is rebounding, but specific demographics, like those living in poverty or rural areas, remain lower than pre-pandemic rates.

What does this mean for you?

Depending on where you live, measles, polio, and other outbreaks may start popping up around you and in the news, like the measles outbreak in Ohio or the polio outbreak in New York that prompted a state of emergency.

If your child is fully vaccinated, there isn’t cause for concern. But, many children <12 months cannot be fully vaccinated because they aren’t eligible yet.

Bottom line

We are moving backwards, which means we will likely see the resurgence of infectious diseases once considered 19th-century problems. It’s hard to watch this slow bleed because it is preventable.

Love, YLE


In case you missed it:

“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH Ph.D.—an epidemiologist, wife. During the day, she is a senior scientific consultant to several organizations, including the CDC. At night she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health world so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:

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I SAW THE FUTURE AT WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY THIS MORNING IN THE BRAIN OF TOMORROW THE OPTIMUM IGLOO

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TOURING BATTLE HILL (ON FOOT) SHOWING SITE OF ONE OF THE BATTLE OF WHITE PLANS  WITH 3-wall feature with map of where YOU ARE IN WHITE PLAINS (Top of screen) at The OPTIMUM IGLOO THIS MORNING.

HOME OF BEYOND HUMAN INTELLIGENCE on 2nd floor of the library

WPCNR TOMORROW AND BEYOND. By John F. Bailey. November 13, 2023:

Forget about whatever you read about artificial intelligence.

There is nothing artificial about it.

It is reality, beyond imagination.

Never did I ever think a machine could write for me!

This can!

APPROACHING CHATTERTON HILL CLIMATIC BATTLE OF WHITE PLAINS SITE

I saw the Optimum Igloo artificial  intelligence three-wall wraparound studio this morning demonstrated by Austin Olney, Digital Media Specialist of White Plains Public Library.

I saw a miracle performing with everything I saw.

Mr. Olney swept away any skepticism I have about “artificial” intelligence being something to fear.

It is a miracle.

The new is always feared.

Because it is a threat to power and the status quo.

The OPTIMUM makes research, writing, design, art, engineering, medicine diagnosis, faster, saving time and money LOTS OF IT.

Story about checkers created by Chatbot by the Igloo “BRAIN IN THE ROOM”

“Beyond Human Intelliegence,” as I call it, has the infinite possibility to stretch the envelope of creative genius in all fields far beyond where man and woman have ever gone before. It will enable the mind to do more with this computer assistant, a superbrain to test,try,invent, faster and more often.

I  would call it “Beyond Human Intellgence” for the way it is stirring the blowing of winds of change, progress,  possibilities of ultimate creative, research and discovery accelerating at warp speed.

It uses Chatbot, the fastest growing internet product ever, (Mr. Olney said) grew in a month faster than any internet launch. Midjourney is the other program that teams with Chatbot for graphics. Mr. Olney describes the two programs as “top of the line.”

Olney showed how chatbot creates a definition of  one word such as a checkers, and comes up with a definition in a second or two.

I remember the hour or so I used to spend coming up with short punchy headlines when I was in advertising. My tongue was hanging out seeing this.

The “beyond human brain” can build on rough advertisng copy or news article if asked to “enhance it.”

In less than 20 seconds  it fleshes out a new article in punchy easy flowing copy that weeds out the sometimes awkward phrasing written in the heat of a deadline.

The awesome brain in a room makes every creative person able to create faster in any field.

Mr. Olney then showed how I could instruct chatbot to create a story and then and then…a short play with dialogue,  based on the rough story the machine had created out of a rough story there– it appeared.  

And there it was in seconds…better than Brenda Starr!

I cannot tell you how hard writing is, the revising, the agonizing over words.

The miracle in a room  can take your rough idea and give you a start, load in facts and background, then cut it for you.

The Optimum Igloo is being demonstrated monthly and it is worth seeing.

This miracle thing I saw today is so good The New York Times is suing it over copyright.

Chatbot and Midjourney collect content and store it and add to the store of knowledge billions and billions of facts, pictures, that can be incorporated faster than you can say “Jack Robinson.” You pick and choose.

This Giant Brain in a room will shake copyright law up. I have often  thought that if you  disseminate copyrighted material on a website for example it is fair use to copy portions of it. The Times for example makes you pay for access to their website. So if you pay for access to the material on their website or by their paper you should be able to copy it because it has already been disseminated to you for pay.

Chatbot prohibits  political material, discussion or dissemination of violence, and sexually oriented content from being created. Something many platforms refuse to do effectively.

Olney pointed out that Chatbot does not verify facts. So if you include them you need to do your own checking.

The Midjourney graphics creates wraparound three-dimensional sequences. Mr. Olney is currently creating scenic tours of The Battle of White Plains with it. Which brings the terrain of that epic battle alive.

I no longer fear artificial intelligence.

Neither should you.

It is great for training, I can see it being used for aviation, the military, police training

MR. OLNEY DRIVING A ROUTE IN WHITE PLAINS DRAMATICALLY GIVING A REALITY  WRAP AROUND VIEW

It will dramatically enhance the way children learn in schools that will adapt to it. It is adaptible to cellphone technology,  I think, at-home learning, etc.

It will teach good writing by example.

It will demonstrate math by graphics and ultimately throw out those geometric formulas on regents by demonstrating with graphics.

It will teach English grammar faster.

It will revolutionize entertainment, bring stars of the past who have  now passed away back to life in new movies, scripts, sitcoms and concerts of artists touring the world. Humphrey Bogart will be back in his glory. Barbara Stanwyck, John Wayne.

Chatbot is now free.

I have got to try this and so should you.

 

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OUTBREAK OUTLOOK NORTHEAST

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WHITE PLAINS HONORS VETERANS ON CITY HALL STEPS

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THE COLORS ARE RAISED BY THE WHITE PLAINS COLOR GUARD OF POLICE AND FIREMEN,. ISABEL HOCH SANG A MEASURED, STATELY “STAR SPANGLED BANNER” THAT PRODUCED JUST THE RIGHT NOTE OF HONOR, REMEMBRANCE, PRIDE AND APPRECIATION–  FRANCIS SCOTT KEY WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASED. MS. HOCH  SET THE TONE OF WHAT AMERICA’S VETERANS WHO SAVED THIS COUNTRY SO THAT BANNER MAY “WAVE OVER THE LAND OF THE  FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.”

MAYOR TOM ROACH HONORED WHAT SERVICE TO AMERICA IN THE ARMED FORCES MEANT TO VETERANS, REMINISCING ABOUT HIS FATHER WHO SERVED ON A PBY RESCUE PLANE IN WORLD WAR II, AS A NOSE GUNNER, THAT HIS FATHER “ALWAYS TREASURED HIS SERVICE. HE SAID HE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A VETERAN WHO SERVED ON THE U.S.S. WHITE PLAINS, AND HOW THE NAVY VETERAN WAS PROUD AND SHARED WITH THE MAYOR WHAT HIS SERVICE ON THE SHIP HAD MEANT TO HIM AND STILL DOES MEAN TO HIM.

MITCHEL STOGEL, FIRST LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY STANDING AT LEFT, WHO SERVED IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND SOMALIA IN ADDRESSING THE  AUDIENCE, SHARED THE FEELING OF SATISFACTION FROM HIS 13 YEARS OF SERVICE AND RECALLED HOW MANY MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY HAD SERVED WHICH CONVINCED HIM TO GO INTO THE ARMY. OF HIS EXPERERIENCE, HE SAID “I WOULD TRADE IT FOR ANYTHINNG ELSE.”

WHEN THE SERVICE ENDED, THE SILVER BELL WAS RUNG 11 TIMES TO COMMEMORATE THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH WHEN THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED IN A RAILROAD CAR OUTSIDE PARIS

AS THE SOLEMN  RINGING ENDED, OLD GLORY,  SLACK ON THE FLAG POLE ABOVE CITY HALL WHEN THE CEREMONY BEGAN , WAS WHIPSNAPPING UNFURLING RIPPLING IN THE WIND. IT WAS FITTING THE FLAG, WHICH IS A LIVING THING, APPEARED TO BE FILLING WITH ROBUST PRIDE AND SALUTING THE VETERANS OF THE PAST FOR THEIR VALOR AND NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN DEBT AMERICA OWES THEM.

 

 

 

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WHITE PLAINS WEEK THE NOV 10 REPORT ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org

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THE WHITE PLAINS ELECTIONS

THE WHITE PLAINS OF THE FUTURE: CHALLENGE TO THE NEW COMMON COUNCIL “6”

WHAT THE VOTE SAYS ABOUT WHITE PLAINS VOTERS AND POLITICS

HEZI ARIS  MIDDLE EAST EXPERT ON ORIGINS OF THE ISRAEL-HUMAS WAR – THE 105 YEAR CONFLICT AND  WHAT HE SEES AS THE ONLY SOLUTION

COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER INTRODUCES THE OLDEST WESTCHESTER VETERAN

RETROSPECTIVE ON ARNOLD DIAZ PIONEER INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR VICTIMS–THE INTREPID “SHAME ON YOU” REPORTER WHO TRACKED DOWN THE BUREAUCRATIC BUNGLERS, THE SCAMS, THE FLIM-FLAMS AND STOOD UP FOR THE LITTLE GUY AND RIGHTED WRONGS

THE 2024 COUNTY BUDGET

WESTCHESTER COVID CASES GO UP BY 100–ENDS 6 WEEK DECLINE IN CASES THE IMPLICATIONS

THE NEW COACHMAN HOMELESS SHELTER PLAYGROUND IN WHITE PLAINS

AND ALWAYS MORE

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK SINCE 2001 A.D.

22 YEARS FIGHTING FOR TRUTH JUSTICE AND THE AMERICAN WAY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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MARYJANE SHIMSKY REPORT FROM ALBANY

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District 92 | News You Can Use

Veterans Day

On Veterans Day, we honor all of our residents who have served in the military (in contrast to Memorial Day, which honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in their military duty). We thank our veterans for all of their work to keep our country and our world safe and secure.

On this, the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, we remember the American and British veterans who saved West Berlin from the Soviet Union’s blockade. Those troops completed some 189,000 flights, delivering over 2.3 million tons of food and other needed supplies. Their work provided relief to 2 million beleaguered Berlin residents, peacefully and effectively countered Soviet/Russian aggression, and strengthened the bonds of cooperation between the United States and Western Europe.

As we express our gratitude to our veterans for their past and present contributions to community, country and world, we remember our future veterans — those who are serving in the military today. We thank them for their service, and hope to see them, safe and sound, at local Veterans Day events one day.

There will be Veterans Day ceremonies in our district on the following days:

Friday, November 10

Saturday, November 11


$6.76 Billion for New York 
Passenger Rail Projects

The Biden Administration has awarded of $6.76 billion for downstate passenger rail projects that are critical to ensuring the region’s economy continues to thrive and expand. Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants announced on Monday by the Federal Railroad Administration, four key New York projects that renew and expand the region’s rail network will receive the following Federal investments.

Hudson Tunnel Project  ($3.80 billion)
The Hudson Tunnel Project will construct a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitate the existing North River Tunnel, which was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy, to improve reliability, resiliency, and redundancy for hundreds of thousands of daily passengers who travel across the Hudson River, and allow for much-needed repairs on an essential stretch of the Northeast Corridor.

Metro-North Penn Access ($1.64 billion)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is overseeing construction of four new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx and track and infrastructure enhancements that will enable the expansion of Metro-North’s New Haven Line to Penn Station and bring Amtrak-owned infrastructure to a state of good repair. The new route will dramatically reduce travel time to and from the East Bronx, which currently lacks rail service. Residents will save up to 75 minutes over current subway and bus connections and creates a direct commuter rail route between the Bronx and Westchester and Connecticut. It also gives Metro-North a second terminal in Manhattan, a critical backup, and is the largest expansion of Metro-North since it was founded 40 years ago.

Rehabilitation of Amtrak’s East River Tunnels to Penn Station ($1.26 billion)
Crews will rehabilitate two Amtrak-owned rail tunnels between Queens and Penn Station that were damaged by salt water flooding during Superstorm Sandy. The tunnels are used by all Amtrak service to New England and hundreds of Long Island Rail Road trains per day along with non-passenger NJ Transit and Amtrak trains traveling to Sunnyside Yard for storage. They will be also used by Metro-North trains when Penn Station Access service begins in 2027. The new tunnels will feature improved track that is directly fixed to the tunnel, all-new components, and enhanced climate resiliency.

Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Project  ($58 million)
Amtrak has proposed a final design to replace the existing 115-year-old two-track Pelham Bay Bridge in the Bronx with a new structure that will facilitate higher speed travel and fewer bridge openings.


Metro-North/LIRR Combo Ticket

With the opening of Grand Central Madison, direct transfers between Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road are now possible—and made easier with the new Combo Ticket. This will offer a convenient alternative for travelers to points on Long Island, including to JFK Airport. Lear more at mta.info/fares/combo-ticket.


MTA Customer Survey

The MTA is conducting its Fall 2023 Customers Count Survey in English and in Spanish, as part of its ongoing service improvement efforts. To participate, visit mta.info/mta-customers-research by November 20.


Weatherize for Winter 

Winter in New York brings increased demand for heating homes and businesses. In a typical home, 43% of annual energy consumption goes toward space heating. But if the building envelope is not weatherized, air leaks will drive down efficiency—wasting 25-40% of energy used for heating—and impede comfort by creating drafts and uneven temperatures indoors. Learn how you can takes steps to weatherize your home or place of work at NYSERDA’s How to Weatherize for Winter.


 

Coffee and Conversation

Tuesday, November 14, 3-4 PM
at the William Vescio Community Center in Briarcliff Manor
(RSVP requested, but not required, to gilbertd@nyassembly.gov)

 


 

District 92 Office Open House

Wednesday, November 15, 5-7 PM
at 303 South Broadway, Suite 229, Tarrytown
(RSVP requested, but not required, to gilbertd@nyassembly.gov)

 


 

League of Women Voters Event

Thursday, November 16, 6:45 PM 
at the Ossining Public Library Auditorium
(register here)

 


 

If my office can be of assistance to you, please respond to this email or call 914-631-1605.

Best wishes,


MaryJane Shimsky
Assemblymember 92nd District

 

Follow Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky on Facebook for news and updates from Albany and across Assembly District 92.

If you would like to unsubscribe and stop receiving emails from this Assemblymember click here .

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SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7: HEZI ARIS ON THE ISRAEL-PALISTINE WAR : THE BACKSTORY, WHERE IT’S GOING, THE ONLY SOLUTION ISRAEL WILL ACCEPT. OF YONKERS TRIBUNE/WESTCHESTER ON THE LEVEL ON PEOPLE TO HEARD ON WHITE PLAINS TV FIOS CH 45 COUNTYWIDE, AND OPTIMUM CH. 76 AND WWW.WPCOMMUNITY MEDIA.ORG

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HEZI ARIS, INTERNATIONALIST & OBSERVER . FOUNDER YONKERS TRIBUNE, BLOGTALK RADIO HOST OF WESTCHESTER ON THE LEVEL–

EXPLAINS:

ON “PEOPLE TO BE  HEARD” WESTCHESTER TV’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM

  ORIGINS OF THIS 105 YEAR OLD CONFLICT —  ONLY SOLUTION ISRAEL WILL ACCEPT

 RAISED IN THE MIDDLE EAST. EXTENSIVE OBSERVER  OF THE REGION’S 100 YEARS OF   CONFLICT AND ORIGINS IS INTERVIEWED BY JOHN BAILEY ON

HOW THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE WAR WILL BE SETTLED TO ISRAEL’S SATISFACTION AND A NEW FUTURE FOR PALISTINE IF THEY WANT IT.

HOW COLONIALISM AND GREED CREATED A WAR THAT NEVER ENDS.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS MODERN 100 YEARS WAR WITH NO END IN SIGHT

SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 EST WHITE PLAINS TV FIOS CH 45 AND OPTIMUM CH 76 AND ANYTIME ON  WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

 

 

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