BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
Drivers sit strapped into stripped down junker cars rescued from scrap yards. They rev their engines and strap on their helmets. The air horn sounds as they throw the transmission into reverse. Mud soars through the air and eight cars collide with an ear-splitting crash in the centre of a muddy pit. Scraps of metal fly and cars jump into the air with the collision. This is no car accident, this is organized chaos: demolition derby, an event that takes place every year at the Blackstock, Port Perry, and Uxbridge fairs. Drivers strip their cars down to the basic components, ripping out anything that can burn or become a missile, and then ram their vehicles into each other’s car, in an effort to disable the competition while keeping their own engine running and wheels spinning. "It’s great to get in a car and do something you would never think of doing on the road," said Tina Carter, a co-founder and driver in the Soccer Moms demolition derby series at the Blackstock Fair. "It feels like I’m driving a tank and we have a lot of fun." The Soccer Moms is a special class of demo derby where drivers use mini-vans, organized by Tina Carter and Brian Van Camp, to give women their own unique venue to destroy vehicles in the name of charity. "A lot of the women feel intimidated by the small cars, we drive mini-vans because they’re safer," said Tina. "They also smash a lot louder and go longer!" Each of the women who drive in the Soccer Moms series collect donations for charity, and the winner gets to choose which charity the prize money goes to. "All of the vans are donated by Langille’s scrap yard, they drop the vans off and we get them ready for the derby," said Tina. "When it’s all over, Langille’s comes and picks the van up again, already stripped and looking like scrap metal. They’ve been a great supporter for the past three years." The draw that makes the demo derby the highlight of many fairs across Ontario is seeing drivers act like mad men as they ram and smash into each other, twisting metal and hurling mud into the air. The occasional engine fire and the loud roar of open exhaust pipes helps set the stage in the effects department. The popularity of demolition derby has been compared to people watching NASCAR for the crashes and fires, or why traffic slows due to drivers rubbernecking to see a car crash. During the day, Tina is a financial manager at a car dealership, helping customers purchase their shiny, new ride. Her 25-year history in the car business is an extreme juxtaposition to organizing an event where vehicles die a loud, fiery death. "It’s a great stress reliever," said Tina. "I spend all day around brand-new cars and then I get to take them for a spin in the mud and smash them up." When multiple car pile-ups are the objective for an event, safety is a huge concern for the drivers and organizers. To get the vehicles ready, first the drivers will remove all of the glass and interior. Next they remove the battery and gas tank and bolt them down inside the car to prevent leaks and fires. The explosive charge in the air bag is taken out or set off, since they are bound to explode, and a piece of metal is welded over the windshield so that no flying debris too large can hit the driver. The whole process takes about ten hours. Finally, helmets, gloves, fire extinguishers and sometimes neck braces are always used. "I’ve had a few bumps and bruises, but I’ve never been scared or seriously injured driving in the derby," said Tina. "The drivers are all very conscious to hurt the car and not the person inside, we paint the drivers-side door white just in case and the derby officials make sure no one is driving too dangerously." There is no better time for those who want to take in the spectacle, or drive in it themselves, with the circuit of fairs and derbies in the near future. Tina’s husband Ron Carter advised that the best way to practice is to "drive in Toronto." Come on out and take in the fun of a demolition derby at the upcoming Port Perry and Uxbridge fairs. The Port Perry demo derby will be held this weekend at the Port Perry Fair on Sunday, September 1, at 6 p.m, and in Uxbridge on Saturday, September 6, at 7 p.m. The demolition derbies are shaping up to be a smashing good time for all.
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DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business? The Uxbridge BIA recently launched an exciting new contest aimed at making those dreams a reality. The Uxbridge BIA’s ‘Win This Space’ contest will allow one local entreprenuer to blaze a new trail, with the grand prize winner awarded $12,000 towards their first year’s lease of commercial space in Uxbridge. The BIA made the announcement at a joint luncheon between the BIA and the Chamber of Commerce at the Tin Mill Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 26. Contestants can get involved by visiting the BIA’s web site, www.uxbridgebia.ca, and clicking on the Submit Your Idea page to write a few words about their idea for a new Uxbridge business between now and Sunday, Oct. 20. According to BIA facilitator Sari Pandopolous, all submitted ideas for businesses will be reviewed by the Uxbridge BIA Board of Directors /Judging panel before up to 30 candidates will be selected to participate in the next phase of the competition. If your idea is selected by the panel, you’ll be invited to attend the Kick-off launch event at the Uxbridge Music Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5. At this time candidates will discover more about the extra services offered to aided you in making your business idea a reality. Candidates will receive a series of three free Business Builder Coaching Workshops being hosted by the BACD (Business Advisory Centre Durham) during which you will create a Business Model Canvas for your proposed business. You will also receive numerous networking opportunities, mentoring support and much more. "We want to fill those empty spaces in town," Ms. Pandopolous explained. "And the contest is also about people inspiring other people. We have a great line-up of mentor nights where those who submitted ideas will be able to network, and learn from current local business owners." The winner of the contest will be announced during a live finale celebration at the Uxbridge Music Hall on March, 6, 2014, with the winning business expected to be up and running in the community by next spring. Although there can only be one grand prize winner, the BIA is hopeful for several winners over the course of the contest, which is running in the hopes of invigorating Uxbridge’s already diverse business community. "There’s not just one winner," commented BIA Chair Don Andrews. "Hopefully we can get a lot of great business ideas percolating that will hopefully one day come to fruition and lead to an even more vibrant business community here in Uxbridge." The ‘Win This Space’ initiative is a partnership between the Uxbridge BIA, Durham Region Economic Development and BACD (Business Advisory Centre Durham) who are all ready to assist you with planning your new business so submit your idea before Saturday, Oct. 20 at www.uxbridgebia.ca. BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
SCUGOG: Fair season in North Durham continues this week, as the Port Perry Fall Fair returns for a long weekend celebration of all things agriculture. This year’s fair takes place from Saturday, Aug. 31 to Monday, Sept. 2, at the Port Perry Fairgrounds, located at Old Simcoe Rd. and Reach St. Favourite features returning to this year’s fair are events such as the tractor pull, demolition derby, rodeo bull riding and a classic car show, all taking place over the course of the weekend in addition to the many agricultural displays and shows. New this year is the Port Perry Fair Idol competition, in which aspiring pop stars ages 12 to 25 will take to the stage to perform in front of a live audience. The contest takes place at 3 p.m. on Aug. 31, with auditions from 10 a.m. to12 p.m. On Sunday night (Sept. 1) at 9 p.m., country music performer Dallas Smith will perform at the entertainment shelter, preceded by up-and-coming local singer Riki Knox at 8 p.m. Admission to the fair is $10 per day for adults (age 14 and older), $4 per day for children (ages five to 13) and free for pre-schoolers (age four and under). Weekend passes are also available at $18 for adults and $7 for children. Parking is $3 per day. Advance midway passes are still available at Vos’ Independent Grocer, located at 1893 Scugog St. in Port Perry, until 12 p.m. on Aug. 31. Advance passes are $25 each. For more information, visit www.portperryfair.com. Fair season continues next weekend with the Uxbridge Fall Fair (Sept. 6 - 8) followed by the Sunderland Fall Fair (Sept. 10 and 11). See Pages 14 and 15 of today’s Standard for a full schedule of events. BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
NORTH DURHAM: A young local resident has received some provincial recognition for her charity work in recent years, helping make the holidays brighter for the young patients of the Hospital for Sick Children. Thirteen-year-old Utica resident Victoria Leask was the recipient of the Leading Girls Building Communities Award, an annual honour given to girls under 18 who are working to make their communities a better place. Victoria received the award from Durham MPP John O’Toole, who also nominated her for the award, at his recent community barbecue in Bowmanville. The award recognizes Victoria’s ongoing Christmas campaigns to cheer up Sick Kids’ patients hospitalized over the holidays, by encouraging members of the local community to create ornaments and gift bags for youth staying at the Toronto hospital. Dubbed ‘Victoria’s Gifts For Sick Kids,’ the initiative will go into its third year this December. This Christmas, Victoria said that she plans to make ornaments out of material other than paper, as has been traditionally used. Not one to sit still, Victoria is continuing her work for Sick Kids in the summer and fall by taking up a collection for kids’ and teens’ DVDs which will be donated to the hospital’s library. So far, she has collected more than 20 films and is looking for as many donations as possible by mid-October. Anyone interested in contributing can get in touch by e-mail at bd.leask@powergate.ca. BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
SCUGOG: Beloved characters from several decades of film and television will gather in Blackstock this weekend, helping to open the annual Blackstock Fair on Saturday (Aug. 24). This year’s theme is ‘Disney on Parade’ and parade-goers can expect to see some of their favourite characters taking part. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at Cartwright Central Public School at 10 Alexander St. in Blackstock and will make its way to the fairgrounds on Church St. to officially open the fair. Although the fair officially takes place Aug. 24, the fun begins early on Friday night (Aug. 23) at 7:30 p.m., with the popular Garden Tractor Pull. The event features a variety of age and vehicle classes, competing in a scaled-down version of a traditional tractor pull. Admission is $8 for adults, and $4 for children 12 and under (preschoolers are free). On the day of the fair, visitors can take in a number of activities, including the midway, Kids’ World, and various agricultural events including horse pulls and livestock demonstrations. Another highlight of the day is the popular Demolition Derby, taking place at 7 p.m. and featuring four-cylinder and six-cylinder vehicle classes. The derby will also feature the return of the Soccer Mom Charity Classic, featuring local soccer moms going head-to-head in minivans courtesy of Langille’s Scrap, all in the name of raising money for charity. Admission to the Blackstock Fair is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 905-986-0035, e-mail admin@blackstockfair.ca or visit www.blackstockfair.ca DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Immediate repairs are needed to the Thomas Foster Memorial in order to prevent a costly and catastrophic collapse, council heard recently. Ross Gillespie of engineering firm Aecom made the grim announcement to councillors as part of a presentation at council’s meeting on the morning of Monday, Aug. 12. Aecom has regularly done work on the Foster Memorial for the past 20 years, and was asked by the township to assess work to be done on the building in the coming years in an audit which was completed this past May. Mr. Gillespie’s report to council included a number of items at the Foster Memorial which are in need of immediate attention. Amongst the items on the immediate priority list are ventilating and insulating the attic, a lightning protection system, upgrades to the roof’s drainage system, and, most pressing of all - the replacement of the copper roof’s centre dome - carrying an estimated cost of $165,000. The total cost of the immediate repairs needed at the Foster total almost $291,000, and a total cost of necessary repairs over the next five years pegged at close to $900,000, leaving members of council scratching their heads as they attempt to fund the project. "The provincial and the federal governments won’t recognize this building, so it falls on the backs of local taxpayers," said Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor. "I feel very strongly, as I think everybody on this council does, that this building has to be preserved, but it starts with how we’re going to pay for it. It’s a million-plus dollars over the next five years and Uxbridge can’t afford that." Mayor O’Connor added that she feels council should write both the federal and provincial ministers of heritage and offer an invitation to view the building along with a copy of Mr. Gillespie’s report on the building. However, she noted that in the recent past when local MP Bev Oda served as federal Heritage Minister, no funds were received by the township towards the preservation of the Foster Memorial. Ward 1 Councillor Bev Northeast, who has served on the Foster Memorial Committee since 1992, was saddened at the deterioration of the historic building. "It’s really sad to see the building in this kind of shape, being of Visentin architecture, the only one in North America and we have it here in Uxbridge," added Councillor Northeast. Ward 3 Councillor Pat Mikuse noted that the next intake for Trillium grants for provincial funding is in November, and the township should look at preparing a request for funds. "It’s time we look at saving this unique building," added Councillor Mikuse. Responding to a question from Ward 4 Councillor Jacob Mantle as to what the worst case scenario for the township should they not do anything, Mr. Gillespie offered a grim prognosis. "Over a couple of years, the roof would collapse. It would be a two to three-year time frame based on what I saw." DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
For more than 40 years, residents have fought to preserve area farmland in their opposition to the proposed Pickering Airport, and recently an advocacy group made an impassioned presentation in Port Perry. In July, Queen Beans and P’Lovers hosted a Land Over Landings presentation as the group sought to inform local residents of the issues surrounding the project. Land Over Landings is the latest group to take on the proposed airport, carrying on a fight that began with People Over Planes when the project was originally announced in 1972. On the heels of an announcement in June by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty that the airport would indeed be going ahead, Land Over Landings has renewed their energies by hosting these information sessions in neighbouring communities. "The government isn’t caring about this land but we are," stated Land Over Landings spokesperson Mary Delaney. "We’re focusing on the land because it’s still there. This is not a case of NIMBY (not in my backyard), we don’t want it anywhere because it’s not needed. It’s such a no-brainer if only we could get the government to listen." Among the chief concerns of the group is the feasibility of a second major airport for the GTA as well as the apparent lack of a business plan for the project going forward. "There is a lot of misinformation out there, and the government is creating false hopes on the basis of smoke and mirrors," explained Pat Valentine of Land Over Landings. "There is no business case or price tag for this project." The group points to Montreal’s infamous Mirabel Airport as an example of why an airport in Pickering would be doomed to fail, and residents of Durham Region would be left to pick up the pieces. When Mirabel opened in 1975, it was originally envisioned to be the largest airport in the world in terms of surface area as more than 98,000 acres of land were expropriated. In comparison, the Pickering Airport lands were originally composed of 18,600 acres of federal lands, and a further 25,000 acres provided by the provincial government. As Land Over Landings pointed out, that would be enough land for four airports the size of Pearson International Airport in Mississauga. "If the project ever does go through, the people of Durham will be the big losers. We’ll end up with a white elephant, because it’s going to fail just like Mirabel and just like across the United States where airports were built and expanded with grand ideas and no plan," added Ms. Valentine. The other main issue at hand for Land Over Landings is the disappearance of prime agricultural land to make way for the project. "This is class one farmland, the best in the world," explained Ms. Delaney. "One day, we will need an airport to fly in the fruits and vegetables we can’t grow." DARRYL KNIGHT AND BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
SCUGOG: Local opponents of a proposed Scugog solar farm will have their voices heard next month, at an environmental review tribunal dealing with the controversial project. The project, a 10-megawatt solar farm proposed for a Shirley Rd. property, has the potential to set a precedent for further major infrastructure projects on the Oak Ridges Moraine, say members of environmental group Save The Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition (STORM). Recently, an environmental review tribunal accepted a pair appeals to the project, which is being spearheaded by Canadian Solar. When the hearing begins on Tuesday, Sept. 10, Scugog Township and local resident Jacqueline Visconti will be presenting their cases in opposition to the construction of the project, which will cover 142 acres of land. A preliminary hearing into the matter was held on Thursday, Aug. 8, in Scugog Council chambers as other interested parties made their pitch to be involved with the process. Five total requests were made to the tribunal, including four requesting presenter status and one seeking participant status. Canadian Solar has previously declined to comment on the project as it is being appealed. Prior to last week’s preliminary hearing on the matter, members of STORM and neighbours of the proposed Canadian Solar Illumination facility gathered at a Shirley Rd. home on Aug. 7, to discuss what STORM’s executive director Debbe Crandall described as what could be a "precedent-setting" legal proceeding. In her presentation to the gathered audience, Ms. Crandall recalled the origins of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) 12 years ago, a piece of provincial legislation designed to reign in urban sprawl which came about after lobbying from concerned Ontarians living on the moraine. The plan will be up for review in 2015, said Ms. Crandall, adding that the appeals against the Shirley Rd. solar farm could form the basis of an increased focus within the ORMCP on controlling the proliferation of such green energy developments on moraine lands. "In 2001, there was no threat of (green energy) infrastructure - it was all about development," recalled Ms. Crandall, referring to the issue of new housing subdivisions springing up on the moraine. "People understand urban sprawl - what they don’t understand is this infrastructure.... If we advocate strategically and intelligently, we can turn the tides of how we look at land use. In 2015, it would be exciting if we shook things up and this (the solar farm appeal) is a good argument." Among the attendees of the Aug. 7 meeting was Doug Taylor, one of several Clarington residents opposing a proposed Hydro One transformer station slated for a moraine property in that municipality, citing the potential for explosions and leaks on sensitive lands. With that project currently on hold - it was originally expected to get underway this summer - following a number of presentations to various levels of government by Mr. Taylor and his neighbours, as well as a third-party report on the project requested and funded by the group, Mr. Taylor shared some his experiences with the group in battling such developments. "You need to be about water, water, water," he said. "They (government) seem to care very little about endangered species, but if you fight them on the water, you stand a chance." The apparent need for such third-party studies, often financed by individuals or organizations at their own expense, on such developments struck a chord with some attendees. "Why do we have to dig into our savings and RESPs to fund additional studies on these projects?" said STORM director Cindy Sutch. "The province should be assisting with that." DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Those hoping for a resolution to the ongoing debate surrounding the proposed firearms discharge by law will have to wait until at least September. Council once again delayed making a decision on the controversial by law at their meeting on the morning of Monday, Aug. 12. Council chambers were once again packed with residents in opposition to any potential increase in operating hours at Uxbridge Shooting Sports on Conc. 4. The chief concern over nearby residents is the noise emanating from the club, which has operated in the same location since 1965. Uxbridge Shooting Sports Vice President Steve Malcolm explained that the club has taken steps to improve its noise barriers in recent years, including the planting of almost 10,000 trees on the property since 1996. However, local residents who have moved to the area with knowledge of the gun club’s long-standing operation, claim that the addition of these trees has done little to block sound emanating from the club. "Trees do not make a difference, only mass blocks sound, and trees do not have enough mass," said local resident Jim Burgess. Mr. Malcolm responded that the club could look at further measures to block sound, but they would take both time and money to properly implement. "We can improve what we’ve already done," said Mr. Malcolm. "Bigger berms around the property is something we’ll look into, but it’ll be a costly endeavour that’ll take time." Ward 2 Councillor Pat Molloy agreed that measures should be taken to further reduce the sound from the club. "It’s time to look at it and see if some big changes can’t be made to sound," commented Councillor Molloy. "We have to be diligent and work on all of these issues to get the sound down." Local residents also take issue with the club’s continued operation on Saturday, which was included in a by-law passed in 1989 to allow for occasional events at the club in addition to their typical Wednesday and Sunday operations. According to Mr. Malcolm, the club operates mainly for members-only training on Saturdays, and does not advertise this in an effort to limit the amount of Saturday shooting on the property. There are, however, five major events that take place on Saturdays at the club throughout the year. Nearby residents have appealed to have the club limited to one Saturday of operation per month, a move that did not appear to sit well with Mr. Malcolm. "Giving away 40 Saturdays a year is not acceptable," said Mr. Malcolm, whose presentation was marred by constant groans from the audience. "This issue should have been addressed in 1965,and again in 1989." A motion by Ward 1 Councillor Bev Northeast to limit the club to operating on five Saturdays per year could not find a seconder at the council table, and was defeated. Council would later decide to keep the by-law intact until more information regarding sound from the site can be obtained. Councillors voted unanimously to have an audio engineer conduct a sound study to ensure that decibel levels fall within Ministry of the Environment guidelines, essentially leaving the current firearms discharge by-law in place until the results of the study are presented to council. The results of the study are expected to be made public in September, and Mayor Gerri Lynn O’Connor stressed a speedy resolution to the study. "In fairness to both sides, we need to do the study immediately and bring it back," said Mayor O’Connor. BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
Bob Smith is a coach of a basketball team, an organizer and advocate of sports and a passionate, active father to his three teenage children. He plays on a basketball team and a lacrosse team, with his daughter and two sons and uses his spare time to train and coach like-minded people. Bob also has Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease that can cause disability and weakness in parts of the body, such as the legs. Bob is able to enjoy life and remain so active and healthy thanks to his involvement with the Abilities Centre in Whitby. The Abilities Centre is a 125,000 square foot, multi-faceted recreation and fitness complex, which focuses on providing access and support to people with disabilities in Durham Region. "The Abilities Centre provides disabled people with resources for social interaction, physical education, sports teams and knowledge to improve their physical performance," said Bob. "They accomplish this by providing wheelchair accessible and adaptive gyms, equipment, and supportive groups and programming." The Abilities Centre does not stop there; it provides music classes, social clubs, educational programs and a wide variety of different wheelchair sports teams to be a part of. The facility’s main drive is to promote community and social living for people with disabilities and to allow access to exercise and sports for all abilities, disabled and able-bodied. Bob’s children are able-bodied, but they play the game of wheelchair basketball alongside him - entirely unique to Durham Region. "You can play wheelchair basketball whether you are able bodied, partially disabled or have a more impacting disability," said Bob. "All three of my kids are able-bodied and they play alongside me and sometimes in tournaments; it’s a great time." The concept of wheelchair sports may seem unorthodox to some, but they are very actually challenging, from wheelchair lacrosse to wheelchair basketball to sledge hockey. Bob gives a basic run-down of the rules, "Wheelchair basketball is very similar to stand-up basketball, including the regulation courts and nets, except the players do not use their legs and they are in a special wheelchair designed for sports. The rules are slightly modified, such as traveling; instead of steps, players must dribble every two pushes they make with their arms." The Abilities Centre holds Bob’s belief that anything can be made accessible and that life can be barrier free, no matter one’s ability level. The Ability Centre’s team have a range of able bodied and disabled athletes, ranging in age from seven years old to members in their sixties. Wheelchair sports are also highly recommended by occupational therapists because they are great exercise for the body and mind and great strength and aerobic training, according to wheelchair lacrosse coach Christine Comeau. Bob explains why he loves to be involved in the Abilities Centre. "I coach wheelchair basketball and play other sports because personally, being disabled, staying active is the best way to improve my health and to keep moving forward and training, despite the fact that I am in a wheelchair sometimes," Bob said. "Disabled people have certain limitations, but there are no barriers that cannot be overcome. Wheelchair sports remove those barriers and adapt the sports so that people with disabilities can stay active, competitive and social." Bob and Christine are trying to spread the word about wheelchair accessible sports in Ontario and Canada. "It’s unfortunate that wheelchair sports and the Abilities Centre is not more well known," Bob said. "I know there are lots of kids, teenagers and adults who are disabled and would love the opportunity to play, compete and be active without barriers and among likeminded people." One highly involved team member, Jeremy Booker, has traveled the world on Team Canada for sledge hockey. "I went to Sweden for the world championship of sledge hockey in 2004, the Torino Olympics in 2006 and the team brought home gold, and Vancouver in 2010," Jeremy said. Jeremy has always loved rough, contact sports and loves wheelchair lacrosse especially because of the amount of skill needed to wield a stick and push his chair at the same time. Recently, the Abilities Centre hosted a tournament with the Wheelchair Lacrosse U.S.A. (WLUSA) team at the Civic Centre in Oshawa, during the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. One of the player’s on the WLUSA team was Ryan Baker. Ryan, a T6 paraplegic who has been in a wheelchair for 22 years since the day he was injured in a car accident after his high school graduation, traveled to Oshawa from San Diego, California to help promote wheelchair sports in North America. "We started wheelchair lacrosse in 2009 in San Diego, but there was no organization that was supporting the growth of competitive sports for people in wheelchairs," said Ryan. "Me and my friends took it upon ourselves to start it with a team and a rulebook." Ryan’s success has been slow but steady, but he is always excited to see new interest from athletes and is very happy to visit the Abilities Centre. His goal is to create a wheelchair lacrosse team in every major city across North America, to give people with disabilities an improved quality of life. "People in wheelchairs work, have families and own businesses, but the recreational aspect of our lives can be hard to access, says Ryan. "Wheelchair sports help us to re-assimilate, develop social routine and foster relationships with like-minded people. Everyone has a need for sports and friendship, whether you are disabled or not." Disabled or able bodied, male or female, young or old; wheelchair sports and the Abilities Centre offers an exciting new take on recreation and exercise for everyone. In order to get involved, check the Abilities Centre web site at www.abilitiescentre.org, phone 905-665-8500 or come visit at 55 Gordon Street, Whitby. Further information can be found at the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association’s website at www.ontwheelchairsports.org. |
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