April 2021
Published monthly
Newsletter
Vol. 2, Edition 10
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Welcome to the latest edition of The Monthly Report.
This month we share with you details about a number of topics.
Read on and you'll learn about new COVID-19 financial relief measures that council has introduced.
We also tell you about TC Energy's purchase of land in the west end.
Discover why the sand is staying on Beach Drive and why there won't be residential pods at the beachfront this summer.
The e-newsletter also contains information about infrastructure upgrades we are making, new policy amendments that facilitate our beachfront redevelopment plans, and much more.
Again, thanks for reading and if you haven't subscribed you can do so by visiting here:
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Council implements financial relief measures to help community
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In response to the financial burden that many people are experiencing due to the provincial stay-at-home order and the shutdown, council has approved a series of financial relief measures.
“We know that people are struggling right now and we hope these steps will provide a measure of assistance during what is a very difficult time,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said.
The following fees and charges are suspended (effective May 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021):
· Reprint of tax or water bill account statements;
· Payment transfer fees;
· Returned cheque charges;
· Penalty/interest on current year water and sewer arrears;
· Penalty/interest on current year tax arrears;
· Penalty/interest on current regular accounts receivable accounts;
Interest and penalty charges will resume on all unpaid balances owing starting Oct. 1, 2021.
All interest and penalty payments applied to accounts for the period Jan. 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021 will remain owing as charged.
In addition, the town will continue to offer a business licensing fee deferred payment plan and will continue to waive late penalties for those businesses that cannot fully operate due to provincial restrictions.
Town supports are in addition to those offered by senior levels of government.
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Beach Drive will remain closed
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At its April 27 meeting, council confirmed the staff decision to extend the closure of Beach Drive for the 2021 season.
Water levels are still high enough that they present a risk of wave action breaching the sand covered portion of Beach Drive during major storm events.
If the road were open, and sand was deposited on the road, it would require costly clean up.
In 2019, the town spent almost $60,000 dealing with four clean ups due to the amount of sand on the road.
Another factor in keeping the road closed is an environmental assessment the town did of the area.
The environmental assessment of the area included extensive public consultation and recommended closing the road to vehicles and repurposing the space for a number of public uses.
See our March 25, 2021 news release that speaks to this subject matter in detail.
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UPDATE - This season we will not have a residents-only pod on the sand-covered portion of Beach Drive. We also will not have residents-only parking at the Spruce Street Lot for residential parking pass holders. Please read our Q&A to understand the basis for these changes.
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Community celebrates
new bookmobile
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BOOK RIDE Congratulations to the Wasaga Beach Public Library on the unveiling of its new Bookmobile on April 1. Mayor Nina Bifolchi and members of council were on hand for the official ribbon-cutting. Watch the library website for details about when the Bookmobile will be in your neighbourhood.
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Wasaga Beach business celebrates 50 years
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HALF CENTURY On April 1, on behalf of council, Mayor Nina Bifolchi presented Beach Builders Home Hardware with a certificate marking the local company's 50th anniversary. Business partners Jamie Vanderburg and Todd Young accepted the certificate during a celebration held at the store. Thank you to Beach Builders for its many contributions to our community over the years. Learn more about the company.
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Trustee Snell provides update to local community
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The local public school board trustee appeared before council’s Coordinated Committee on April 8.
Tanya Snell provided an update on a variety of board matters.
These included the Simcoe County District School Board’s strategic priorities, the board’s response to the pandemic, and information about the board’s capital plans, including reference to the high school situation in the Wasaga Beach, Stayner, and Collingwood area.
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Planning amendments get the OK for beachfront and downtown
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Council, at the April 27 meeting, approved an Official Plan amendment for the beachfront, plus a related Zoning Bylaw amendment, and an amendment to the Downtown Community Improvement Plan.
The amendments serve the following purposes:
- Amend the planning policy framework to introduce flexibility in the Official Plan policy;
- Update policies for road network improvements, based on the environmental assessment for Main Street and Beach Areas 1 and 2;
- Rezone Beach 1 lands, between Playland Parking Lot and Third Street, to B1H zone, ensuring consistent zoning for all lands in the Beach 1 redevelopment area;
- Amend Community Improvement Plan mapping to describe Beach Area 1 lands, between Playland Parking Lot and Third Street, as a priority investment area.
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TC Energy purchases land in Wasaga Beach
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The Town of Wasaga Beach is advising the community that TC Energy has recently purchased property in the west end, along the shore of Nottawasaga Bay.
TC Energy is a publicly listed company in the initial stages of an alternative energy project.
The company purchased the Wasaga Beach property from a private owner.
The land in Wasaga Beach is to accommodate transmission cables from the company’s proposed pumped energy storage facility, which if approved would be at the Department of National Defence’s Fourth Canadian Division Training Centre, near Meaford.
The purpose of this news release is to provide the community an overview of the project.
The town received a written project update from the company on April 12, 2021, confirming the recent purchase of property in Wasaga Beach. The company said that a number of approvals and extensive public consultation would be required before the project can go ahead.
For a project timeline, see the company’s webpage. The company proposes that operation of the pumped energy storage facility and related infrastructure start in 2028.
TC Energy describes pumped hydro storage as “pumping water from a low-lying reservoir during periods of low demand for electricity, typically at night, to a higher-elevation reservoir. When electricity demand is greater (and therefore electricity is more expensive), operators release water back to the lower reservoir through turbines that generate electricity (similar to hydropower from dams).”
From the company’s main project site in the Meaford area, one of the options TC Energy is exploring is to move the electricity to the main grid through lakebed cables in Nottawasaga Bay to underground cables at the Wasaga Beach site and then to the Hydro One transformer station in Stayner. The company has told the town that preliminary feasibility work is underway.
Council received an information report about the project just over a year ago on March 12, 2020, during its regular Coordinated Committee meeting. The report provided an overview of the project. At the time, the report noted Wasaga Beach would be a potential location for transmission routing. Residents can review the report on the town’s website.
Company officials tell the town that should the project move to the environmental assessment phase, TC Energy will begin a broader engagement program in the municipalities affected by the proposed transmission route.
Residents with questions about the project can contact the company at 1-844-551-0055 or by e-mail at energy_storage@tcenergy.com. TC Energy encourages community members that are interested in the project to sign up for their project mailing list by visiting the website. Approvals rest with the province and its agencies, as well as the Government of Canada.
“The town will continue to monitor this proposal and will continue its dialogue with TC Energy. We encourage interested residents to stay informed by monitoring the company’s website,” Mayor Nina Bifolchi said.
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Calling all restaurants! Get ready for when it's safe to re-open for in-person dining. The Open Patios 2021 Program has launched and is now accepting applications for temporary patios.
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Company retained for equipment upgrade project at water pollution control plant
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Members of council awarded a $1.5-million contract to Peak Construction Group Ltd. to upgrade the tertiary filtration system at the water pollution control plant.
Staff used a tender process to select the company.
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Firm selected for water
tower maintenance project
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Jacques Daoust Coatings Management Inc. will handle a maintenance project at the River Road West Water Tower.
Council, at its April 27 meeting, selected the firm to replace the tower's interior coating.
The project comes at a cost of $580,000.
Staff used a tender process to select the company.
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Contractor chosen for drainage improvement project
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At its April 27 meeting, council retained SMRS Construction, at a cost of $1.8-million, for the first phase of the Bay Sands External Area and Local Drainage Improvements project.
The project consists of the reconstruction of Shore Lane, between 64th Street North and 61st Street North, along with drainage improvements at associated intersections, including new storm sewers, concrete curbs, and new asphalt.
Staff used a tender process to identify SMRS as the preferred contractor for the project.
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Engineering firm hired to design drainage improvements for Shore Lane
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An engineering company will do the design work for a drainage improvement project on Shore Lane, from 74th Street to Inverkip Road.
Council, at its April 27 meeting, approved hiring Planmac Engineering Inc., at a cost of $83,200, to conduct the work.
Staff used a Request for Proposals process to identify the firm as the preferred company for the project.
The construction component of the work is to happen in the next five to 10 years, subject to council approval.
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Building activity report shows another active month
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The Building Department Activity Summary for March shows the department issued 56 permits for construction valued at $7.9-million.
The total number of building permits issued for homes was 15 with an estimated construction value of $6.2-million.
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Veterinary hospital planned for
Mosley Street
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The town is processing a site plan application for a property at 2107 Mosley St.
Coordinated Committee received a report on the application during its meeting on April 8 meeting and directed staff to process the application.
The site is home to a single-storey commercial building, but the applicant wishes to demolish the structure and build a two-storey office building that would house a veterinary hospital.
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New building on Mosley
to house law firm
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Municipal staff are processing a site plan for a property at 3097 Mosley St.
At the April 8 Coordinated Committee meeting, members received a report on the application and directed staff to process the application.
The site contains a home that is no longer used. The applicant wishes to demolish the structure and build a two-storey building that would house a law firm.
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Development charges bylaw gets the nod from council
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Council approved the updated development charges bylaw and received a related letter from Hemson Consultants.
Development charges are the fees imposed on new residential and non-residential development by municipalities.
Development charges represent deferred revenues, meaning the town collects the charges and places them in reserves until needed to fund a capital project.
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Development charge rate change impact
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Town council received for information a report on how the development charge rate change will impact the 2022 budget and capital forecast.
The budget forecast was based on the projected development charge of $31,336 being considered in December 2020. Through subsequent refinements, due to public comment, the development charge is now $29,304, a reduction of $2,032, and is being phased in, 75 percent May 24 and 100 percent Jan. 1, 2022.
Staff have updated their forecasts and have estimated that there will be a $271,000 reduction in revenue, depending how much development occurs.
The estimated impact can be made up with the construction of nine additional single-family homes than forecasted. Staff have concluded that a variance of plus or minus five percent on a $6.4-million dollar revenue stream is within normal forecasting expectations.
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The Facade Improvement Program is a FREE municipal Grant Program Package that assists property owners looking to revitalize and/or restore the frontage of their buildings in town. Projects can include side and rear facing facades that have high public visibility.
The program will provide a grant up to 50% of the eligible costs up to $2,000 per project.
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Pedestrian signals coming to
Mosley Street intersections
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The town will install two pedestrian signals at intersections on Mosley Street.
Council approved using Guild Electric Company, at a cost of $427,370, to handle the project.
The lights will be at 51st Street South and 62nd Street.
The signals will enhance safety measures along Mosley Street for residents accessing the beach area.
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Earth Day in Wasaga Beach
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EARTH DAY On behalf of council, Mayor Nina Bifolchi proclaimed April 22 as Earth Day in Wasaga Beach. Read the proclamation.The town flew the Rotary flag at town hall in support of Earth Day and to recognize the South Georgian Bay Rotary Environment Team. The team is made up of eight Rotary clubs that share shoreline along Georgian Bay. The team's goal is to enhance the bay and protect it from environmental damage.
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Download app before heading out on trails
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The Ontario Provincial Police Provincial Communications Centres (PCCs) are using the mobile application 'What3Words' to help people in need when a caller cannot describe or does not know where they are located.
Through its global mapping system, the app labels every three squared metres with a unique three-word location string which can be converted into latitude and longitude coordinates for entry into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in use at the PCCs.
What3Words is a free application for iPhones and Android devices that works off the cellphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) or offline without mobile data if the caller already has the mobile app downloaded on their cellular device.
Even if the caller does not have the app previously downloaded on their mobile device, the PCC communicator can send a link to the caller’s cell phone which will enable the caller with data access to find their What3Words location. The app is available in 43 languages but shares the location in English.
This is an excellent opportunity to save precious time in an emergency and enable a more rapid frontline response.
Consider adding the app to your mobile device, especially if you are planning a trip onto our local trail system.
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Online resources to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Town of Wasaga Beach
County of Simcoe
Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
Ontario Ministry of Health
Health Canada
Government of Canada
World Health Organization
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Government of Ontario COVID-19 updates
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Take the LINX bus to Barrie
The route runs weekdays between Allandale Station in Barrie and the Real Canadian Super Store in Wasaga Beach.
Ride the Wave ... hop on Wasaga Beach Transit to get around town
Wasaga Beach Transit is an affordable and economical way to get around our community.
Our buses run seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Leave the car at home and take the bus.
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When to call 211 or 911
211 is a tremendous community connection program, where a live person assists callers 24 hours a day to find information about a wide range of health and community services.
911 is strictly for emergencies (fire, ambulance, police) when help is urgently required. More here.
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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Search "Town of Wasaga Beach" on Facebook and Twitter and follow us for daily updates on town activities and services.
Be the first to know what's new!
Get information about agendas, town programs, council happenings, and much more.
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Wasaga Beach Council Highlights
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Wasaga Beach Town Council met on Tuesday, April 27.
For an overview of what took place, see our highlights package: Here
Watch the meeting below:
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Find a meeting in our calendar
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Looking for information on when town meetings take place?
Check out our website for dates and times. You can see the whole month at a glance.
Learn more here:
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Town of Wasaga Beach Quick Fact
Did you know we keep a variety of maps for your reference on our website?
Visit the site to access maps on a number of topics, including parking, playgrounds, snow plow routes, and much more.
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Waste collection information
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The County of Simcoe is responsible for waste collection in the Town of Wasaga Beach.
You can learn more about waste services by visiting the county's website.
The site includes a variety of information, including waste collection schedules and landfill locations.
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Water conservation rebates are available!
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The Town of Wasaga Beach has a water conservation rebate program.
When you install a low flow or dual flush toilet you are eligible for a $70 rebate.
Residents who install a rain barrel can get a $30 rebate.
Please note that only property owners on municipal water are eligible for the rebate.
You can find rebate forms at here or pick one up at town hall, 30 Lewis St. Applicants must include copies of receipts indicating that they purchased the particular item.
Completed forms and supporting documentation can be presented at town hall. The rebate will be applied to your next water bill.
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You've got payment options
through Plastiq
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Through the town's website using Plastiq (third party), you can pay your property tax and/or water/wastewater bill by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.
There will be a service fee of 2.5 percent applied by the service provider, Plastiq.
Please note that there are several low or no-cost means of paying your bill with the town. These include equal payment plan, telephone banking, mailing a cheque, or placing a payment in our drop box.
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Check out Let's Talk Wasaga Beach here: Click
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Pocket dialing can tie up resources
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When inadvertently dialing 911 on your cell phone, please remember you are activating an emergency service.
In doing so, emergency personnel are committed to determining the origin and extent of the emergency that may be happening.
This means they have to locate the individual who inadvertently dialed 911.
This response can draw needed resources away from actual emergencies. To prevent this please, when not using your phone, lock it so that unintentional calls do not happen.
If you do dial 911 by mistake, please do not hang up on the operator. Explain the call is in fact not an emergency, tell the operator where you are and stay there. This is because an officer must attend your location to determine an emergency is not taking place.
By hanging up or leaving your current location, you create a situation where emergency services must try to locate you, and in the process tie up precious resources.
Only you can stop 911 misdials.
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Are you familiar with MedicAlert Connect?
MedicAlert Connect provides Ontario Provincial Police with 24/7 direct access to a person's medical information including conditions, anxiety triggers, and de-escalation techniques, to assist with reuniting you and your loved ones.
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Did you know the OPP has an online crime reporting site?
The site lets you report a crime without visiting an OPP detachment. Learn more.
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GREAT TIMES AT THE HONEY DEW From the Historical Advisory Committee. The Honey Dew Restaurant was located on Beach Drive, beside West Drugs, and five or six storefronts east of the Dardanella. The Honey Dew had counter seating on the beachfront as well as indoor dining. Serving full course meals, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs and fries at the beachfront counter, they catered to tourists and locals. The restaurant was busy and in 1941 the Honey Dew had been enlarged for the summer season.
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There's always something to do through the Wasaga Beach Public Library
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Message from Mayor Nina Bifolchi
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The provincial shutdown continues and we know that for many in our community this is a difficult time.
That's why your council approved a series of financial relief measures recently. You can get more information about the steps we've taken by reading The Monthly Report or visiting our website.
We continue to remind people to support our local businesses as much as possible. Our 'Pledge' to support local campaign is running in The Sun newspaper, on our website, and on our social media channels.
Staff are also working on a local business support campaign called Wasagalicious. The program is a business recovery initiative designed to encourage Wasaga Beach residents to try a variety of culinary, retail and service experiences that are unique to our town. Watch for further details on our social media channels and on our website.
Finally, I want to send a shout-out to all of the Moms and Dads in our community who are supporting their children with e-learning. Kudos to you for doing your best to support your children during a difficult time. Your effort is a real life-lesson that I am sure your children will remember for years to come.
Stay safe and talk again soon.
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Wasaga Beach Town Council
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Mayor Nina Bifolchi
705-429-3844, ext. 2225
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Deputy Mayor Sylvia Bray
705-888-1131
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Councillor Joe Belanger
705-816-0733
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Councillor David Foster
705-441-2211
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Councillor George Watson
705-309-7653
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Councillor Stan Wells
705-429-3239
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Your town council...
Members of Wasaga Beach town council are elected to represent the people of Wasaga Beach.
You can discuss town matters with a member of council by calling or e-mailing them.
If you would like a member of council to attend a special event please contact Pam Kenwell at 705-429-3844, ext. 2246 or e-mail eamc@wasagabeach.com
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George
Vadeboncoeur
Chief Administrative Officer
705-429-3844, ext. 2222
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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