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All right, good afternoon. Good evening. I guess it's not really afternoon anymore.

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All right, we will get started. All right, this is a hearing before the Aberdeen Board of Appeals on case number 819, shepherds of care LLC are requesting a special exception to operate an assisted living facility at 435 Edmund Street in Aberdeen in an R2 medium density residential district.

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The Board of Appeals has scheduled a public hearing by providing notice and at least one

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newspaper of general circulation at least seven days prior to the proceeding and by providing

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notice to the adjoining property owners.

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Are there any objections to the posting of the public hearing notice?

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All right.

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Hearing none under the rules of procedure the applicant in presenting their case has the burden

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of proof.

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After the applicant has presented their case, then the board members may offer questions and

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then any opponents may present their case.

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The Department of Planning and Community Development will present their report and finally the applicant may present any rebuttal.

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A court reporter is present at this hearing and all testimony should be presented under oath.

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The Board of Appeals will issue a written decision or determination on any application within 30 days following the clues of the record.

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Who will be presenting this case?

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All right, come on up.

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Hello, how are you to see you?

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All right, we're going to have you sworn in and don't you find the court board is going to swear you in before we get started.

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Oh, sorry. Oh, my goodness. Sorry, court reporter. They switched on me.

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All right, come on.

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Perfect.

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All right, go ahead and tell us.

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Thank you for taking the time and out of your busy day to sit and meet with us this evening.

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I have compiled some information here that I would like to read to you all.

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On behalf of Sheppards of Care, thank you for the opportunity to share our mission in

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our how-like the positive impact we are making within our agency and your community.

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By acquiring the property at 435 Edmistory, we have successfully and comfortably accommodated

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household members in strict compliance with the state law 107-14234.

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Beyond providing essential care, our presence has actively uplifted, beautified and revitalized

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the surrounding neighborhood, neighborhood revitalizing and aesthetic value.

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Since establishing our facility, we have prioritized, elevating the aesthetic appeal,

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cleanliness, safety of local areas.

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Property beautification, we maintain a beautifully manicured lawn, adorned with fresh flowers

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ensuring the property projects a clean polish and welcoming appearance, community inspirations.

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Our commitment to provide maintain our commitment to property maintenance has served as a positive

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example, inspiring adjacent neighbors to follow our lead and upgrade the upkeep of their own properties.

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Compassionate Community Outreach. Prior to our arrival, the property and nearby city of God area face ongoing challenges stemming from unhoused encampment. Through brief communication and respectful dialogue,

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efforts of care successfully provided these individuals with vital resources and shelter

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information helping them end their family secure a safe alternative housing.

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The power of community integrated house settings. Operating an assistant living in independent

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facility directly within a residential neighborhood gives seniors a true sense of home.

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completely free from a rigid atmosphere of an institutional facility.

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This, the family-like environment allows our residents to retain their personal independence,

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easily stay connected with family and friends and maintain a safe and high quality of life.

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Our facility has brought sheer joy to the neighborhood.

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Our residents thrive on the vibrant energy of the community listening to the local children,

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playing, laughing while neighbors and families frequently visit to fellowship with our seniors.

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We firmly believe that Sheppards of Care has already proven to be a valuable asset to this

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neighborhood.

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We are deeply committed to continuing this positive legacy moving forward.

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Thank you sincerely.

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Do you have any questions for me?

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All right, did anybody on the board have any questions?

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I did actually had just a couple of questions.

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And how many there's four residents that correct and how many of them.

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Care givers, do you guys have it? We have four. Do they do shifts? Is it like a 24 hour? Yes, me, okay. So I'm there Monday through Friday and then staff comes in on the weekends.

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And then if I need to, like, say, run an air in or anything of that nature to conduct some other businesses, because I do do a resource business. I also work with

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I don't protect services.

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I work with a dot protective services out of Baltimore, you know, to help them, you know, place their residences well.

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All right.

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Anybody?

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All right.

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Phil, if you want to go ahead and give us your report.

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Sure.

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Would you like for me to read all of this?

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It is long.

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I mean, you don't need to, because we all have the materials.

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Yes.

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Yes.

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So if you want to skip the long.

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I will do that.

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I will do that.

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I will do that.

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with that. Okay. In the interest of time. Thank you. The applicants request a special

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exception to operate and assist the living facility at 435 Edmund Street. The property

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is located within the R2 medium density residential zoning district and is currently

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improved with the one-story single-family dwelling. The residence contains 1,280 square feet

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of living area including three bedrooms and two full bathrooms and is situated on a 15,115 square

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foot lot. And considering this request, the Board of Appeals shall review the requirements set

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forth in Chapter 235 development code regarding special exceptions and determine whether the applicant

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has provided sufficient information to satisfy the applicable standards and requirements of that

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section. A special exception may be granted when the board finds that the evidence of record for the

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uses in the zoning district and that the Board of Appeals application complies with all procedural

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requirements of fourth in the section that it complies with all the standards and requirements

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specifically set forth for such use as may be contained in the section and in the zoning

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district where it's to be located. It will not be detrimental to the use, the peaceful

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enjoyment or development of the surrounding properties or just the general neighborhood and

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will cause now objectionable noise, vibrations, odors, dust, glare, or physical activity.

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And it will also be in harmony with the general character of the neighborhood, considering

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the scale of that neighborhood as well.

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It will be consistent with our comprehensive plan.

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It will not adversely affect the health safety, security, or general welfare of residents or

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visitors will be served by adequate facilities, will consider any environmental impact, and that

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the applicant has demonstrated need for the requested use.

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Then there are further guidelines for special exception for implementation, as well as under

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the development code, their specific requirements for assisted living facilities in the R2 district.

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So these are in addition to and you should be considering these special exception requirements.

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The Planning Commission in the City Council approved these amendments to the Development Code to allow

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assisted living facilities in certain zoning districts, R2 and R3.

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So these of course are the ones for the R2.

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The minimum parcel size is 7200 square feet and this lot has over 15,000 square feet.

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The assisted living facility is showing be conducted in a single-family detached dwelling, and I think she has provided us with a floor plan, showing that layout and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

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The density shall not exceed five beds per parcel, and you have four beds per parcel.

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And the improvements, again, are considered architectural and character of the surrounding neighborhood, and will be a harmonious to the neighborhood.

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And that the operator should comply with all state laws.

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And then we will need a copy of those licensing documents as well.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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Does that raise any questions for anybody?

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All right.

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Is there anybody else present who would like to give a statement?

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Okay.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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All right.

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Give us your name and then we'll get you sworn in as well.

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Robert McCorder.

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MCAR-TOR.

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All right.

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Go ahead.

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Okay, good evening chair members of the board.

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My name is Robert MacArthur, and I'm on the corner corner, along with my son of the property of 435 Edmund Street.

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Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to just.

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I just want to let you know I have a stand and support of the proposals to live in use of this

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home. And I want to explain what that means to me as an owner and as someone who cares about

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this property and certainly the community around it. One of the things that stands out to me is

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how much our community is aging. According to the 2024 American Community Survey, hovercounty had

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approximately 48,867 residents aged 65 and older, including more than 4,600 residents aged 85 and

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Here at Aberdeen, approximately one out of every six residents is already age 65 and older.

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And those numbers not mean that every older resident needs a sister living, but they

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do remind us that as our neighbors and family members age communities need a variety of housing

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and care options. Maryland describes a sister living as a way for people who can no longer live

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completely independently to receive help with everyday needs while remaining in a home-like

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community setting. And with an emphasis on dignity and independence, and that is an important

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distinction to me. The vision for this property is not for it to feel institutional. It

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is for it to continue to feel like a home. A place where a small number of people can live

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safely, comfortably, and with dignity. I also understand that only this property carries

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responsibility to the surrounding neighborhood. The cities are to assist in living regulations

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and limit this type of use to a single-family detached home with no more than five beds

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and required to remain harmonious with the character of the neighborhood.

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And as an owner, I believe it is important that the property continued to be well maintained

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that parkinging visitors be responsibly managed, that the residential character of the

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property be preserved, and that all applicable city fire safety and Maryland-assisted living

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requirements be followed.

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I also respect that neighbors may have legitimate questions about parking, staffing, emergency

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access, norways safety or how the home will be operated day-to-day.

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And those are reasonable questions, and these are specific answers.

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A residential system living home has responsibilities not only to the people who live inside

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it, but also to the people who live next door throughout the neighborhood.

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And for me personally, this proposal represents an opportunity to provide a home-like environment

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for older adults who may need some assistance, but who still deserve privacy, dignity,

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companionship and a connection to their community.

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Thank you for allowing me to share my perspective as an owner.

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I'm happy to answer any questions for the board.

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If you have any about the property and our commitment to maintain it,

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as a responsible part of the Aberdeen community.

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Thank you. Any questions from anybody?

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No. All right. Thank you so much.

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We're not as scary as we look at our promise.

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Is there anybody else?

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Okay. Just moral support, emotional support, friends. Okay, I understand. All right. Okay. Again, this is the hearing case number eight one nine

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Shepherds of Care LLC. They requested a special exception to operate an assisted living facility up 435

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Edmund Street Aberdeen in an R2 medium density residential district. All right. Do I have a motion?

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All right. Have a motion a second. All in favor?

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All right, very good. All right, you will get a written opinion within a couple weeks from us and then just keep in contact with Ms. Villaspa, everything else you need to do. All right, thank you so much.

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All right, you guys have a good evening.