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New Interim Principal Named At School In Fairfield County New Interim Principal Named At School In Fairfield County
New Interim Principal Named At School In Fairfield County Danbury Public Schools has named a new interim principal at Westside Middle School Academy. Michael Flynn, a 28-year veteran of Danbury Public School as a teacher, administrator, and now principal, was chosen by Superintendent Dr. Kara Casimiro on Monday, Aug. 19.   According to Michael Seelig of Danbury Public Schools, Flynn attended Danbury public schools from grade three onward, graduating from Danbury High School in 1988. “I feel very fortunate and humbled to be selected for this Principalship,” said Flynn. “Westside has so many great leaders, veteran teachers, and …

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Pair Of New Assistant Principals Named At High School In Fairfield County Pair Of New Assistant Principals Named At High School In Fairfield County
Pair Of New Assistant Principals Named At High School In Fairfield County A high school in Fairfield County is welcoming the arrival of two new assistant principals.  Both Parthena Proskinitopoulos and Nicholas Torres have been appointed as the new Assistant Principals of Weston High School, district officials announced on Friday, July 19.  Proskinitopoulos and Torres will replace Juliane Givoni and Matthew Filip, who will become the Weston school district's Director of Human Resources and return to classroom teaching, respectively.  According to school officials, Proskinitopoulos already has plenty of leadership…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Fairfield County New Assistant Principal Named At School In Fairfield County
New Assistant Principal Named At School In Fairfield County With the naming of a new assistant principal, an unfamiliar face will be seen in the halls of a Fairfield County school. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced David Cheris's appointment as Parkway School's assistant principal.  Cheris will assist Principal Mary Grandville in supporting the entire Parkway community, aiding in the development and achievement of school goals and objectives while advocating on behalf of all students.  He replaces Matthew Cerruto, who was named assistant principal of Western Middle School at the end of the school year. “Mr.…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
New Assistant Principal Named At Fairfield County School New Assistant Principal Named At Fairfield County School
New Assistant Principal Named At Fairfield County School Students will see a different face at a Fairfield County school with the naming of a new assistant principal. Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Toni Jones announced the appointment of Lauren Bird as assistant principal at Cos Cob School in Greenwich, effective immediately.  Bird, who most recently served as assistant principal in Wilton, will assist Cos Cob School Principal Kerry Gavin, supporting the entire Cos Cob community and aiding in the development and achievement of school goals and objectives while advocating on behalf of all students, Jones said. “Mrs. Lauren Bird …

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Report Of Grenade At Fairfield County School Sparks Response From Bomb Squad Report Of Grenade At Fairfield County School Sparks Response From Bomb Squad
Report Of Grenade At Fairfield County School Sparks Response From Bomb Squad Classes at a Connecticut school were interrupted after someone discovered what appeared to be a grenade on campus. Emergency crews in Fairfield County were called shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, June 3, after the device was found outside the Middlebrook School in Wilton, near the school’s batting cages. Wilton Police said administrators placed the campus into a “secure” mode, and several classrooms located adjacent to the area were moved to a different part of the building. Members of the Stamford Bomb Squad responded and determined that the device was hollow and non-functional. Administrator…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
New Assistant Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich New Assistant Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich
New Assistant Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich After serving for several months in an interim capacity, the assistant principal of a Fairfield County middle school now has the job for good. In an announcement on Friday, May 24, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones revealed that Matthew Cerruto will be the new assistant principal at Western Middle School, effective Monday, July 1.  Cerruto will take the position after serving as interim assistant principal since Wednesday, March 13. Before that, he spent two years as the assistant principal of the Parkway School in Greenwich. "Mr. Matthew Cerruto is a d…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Educator In Fairfield County Named 2024 CT Principal Of Year Educator In Fairfield County Named 2024 CT Principal Of Year
Educator In Fairfield County Named 2024 CT Principal Of Year A Fairfield County principal has received two high honors: the 2024 Middle School Principal of the Year and the 2024 Connecticut State Principal of the Year. The Connecticut Association of Schools selected Dr. Kristy Zaleta, the principal of Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, for both awards. Now in her 21st year with Danbury Public Schools and her sixth year as principal of Rogers Park, Zaleta has consistently demonstrated her commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive school environment, said officials with Danbury School. Before her current role, Zaleta was …

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
How Sweet: Fairfield County Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl How Sweet: Fairfield County Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl
How Sweet: Fairfield County Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl Forget the apple; this distinguished Connecticut teacher is getting a cookie party. Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Day, cookie chain Crumbl announced the winners of its “Teacher of the Year” awards, given to educators “for their extraordinary commitment to their classrooms.” In Connecticut, the honor went to Fairfield County teacher Melinda Scott at Stadley Rough Elementary School in Danbury. Recipients were selected from a pool of over 6,000 nominations that included testimonials from parents, students, colleagues, and friends. They were chosen from each state, the Di…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
US Presidential Scholars: 3 Fairfield County High School Seniors Earn Top Honor US Presidential Scholars: 3 Fairfield County High School Seniors Earn Top Honor
US Presidential Scholars: 3 Fairfield County High School Seniors Earn Top Honor Several Connecticut high school seniors have received one of the nation's highest honors for students.  The three, all from Fairfield County, are among only 161 students across the entire US to be selected as 2024 US Presidential Scholars, the US Department of Education just announced on Thursday, May 9.  The US Presidential Scholars Program was created in 1964 and recognizes a few of the country's most distinguished graduating seniors. Scholars are chosen based on academic success, excellence in the arts and technical education, and commitment to community service and leadership.…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westport School Names Teacher Of Year Westport School Names Teacher Of Year
Westport School Names Teacher Of Year A Fairfield County teacher has received a Teacher of the Year award for early education. Albina Ejupi, of Westport, has been named the grand prize winner of the Goddard School's Teacher of the Year Awards.  In addition to being the grand prize winner, Ejupi was also named a regional winner, joining 15 other teachers nationwide who were selected from more than 6,600. Ejupi was recognized for her stimulating and supportive learning environment and for creatively engaging her students by fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. "At Goddard, we are focused on nurt…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings
Best High Schools: Fairfield County Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Connecticut is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings of the nation's best high schools. The brand-new rankings were released Tuesday morning, April 23, and determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. The highest-ranked school in the state is Connecticut IB Academy in East Hartford at 117th nationally. Darien is ranked second in Connecticut, first in Fairfield County, and 169th in the country. These schools made the Top 10 in Connecticut: 3. Marine Science Magnet High School of Southe…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
New Principal Named At Elementary School In Greenwich New Principal Named At Elementary School In Greenwich
New Principal Named At Elementary School In Greenwich An elementary school in Fairfield County will soon have a new principal who brings decades of experience to the table.  In an announcement on Friday, April 19, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones revealed Jason Martin has been appointed as the next principal of Riverside School effective on Monday, July 1.  Martin will replace Christopher Weiss, who announced he would leave the district in January.  According to Jones, Martin is currently the principal of West Gate K-8 School in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, where he has overseen plenty of academic…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich: 'I Am So Honored' New Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich: 'I Am So Honored'
New Principal Named At Middle School In Greenwich: 'I Am So Honored' After a decade of serving as assistant principal, an experienced educator will now take the helm of a Fairfield County middle school. In an announcement on Friday, April 12, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones revealed that Suzanne Coyne would serve as the next principal of Western Middle School effective on Monday, July 1.  Coyne's appointment comes only weeks after being named interim principal on Wednesday, March 13. Jones explained that she instantly rose to the challenge of the role.  "Ms. Suzanne Coyne received overwhelming positive feedback from th…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
New Principal Named At School In Greenwich: 'I Am Humbled To Pick Up Baton' New Principal Named At School In Greenwich: 'I Am Humbled To Pick Up Baton'
New Principal Named At School In Greenwich: 'I Am Humbled To Pick Up Baton' A school in Fairfield County will soon be led by a new principal, officials announced. In an announcement on Thursday, April 11, Greenwich Public Schools Superintendent Toni Jones revealed that Eduardo Calderón will take the helm of the Julian Curtiss School as its new principal effective on Monday, July 1.  Calderón will replace Trish McGuire, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.  Currently the principal of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action Middle School in the Bronx since 2020, Calderón also served as the principal of the Bronx's…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown
School In Fairfield Receives Threat Of Violence, Placed In Lockdown A Fairfield County high school was placed on lockdown after receiving a threat of violence. The incident occurred at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield around 1 p.m., Thursday, April 11. According to Sgt. Michael Stahl of the Fairfield Police, the school received a telephone threat of violence and notified the police. The school was placed into lockdown while officers completed an assessment of the threat and determined that all students and staff were safe, Stahl said. "At this time, we believe this to be a swatting incident and that the call to the school was not made from the imm…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
School In Greenwich Reopens After Cracks Found Following Earthquake School In Greenwich Reopens After Cracks Found Following Earthquake
School In Greenwich Reopens After Cracks Found Following Earthquake A Fairfield County school evacuated following last week's earthquake has reopened. Related: Cracks Discovered At School In Greenwich After 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake: Report Greenwich's Central Middle School was deemed safe to open on Monday, April 8, after cracks were found after the 4.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred on Friday, April 5, in New Jersey that was felt throughout the region.  "We are happy to share some good news with all of you," said Greenwich Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones and Central Middle School Principal Thomas Healy.  School officials said th…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Multiple Anti-Semitic Incidents Under Investigation At Middletown Middle School Multiple Anti-Semitic Incidents Under Investigation At Middletown Middle School
Multiple Anti-Semitic Incidents Under Investigation At Middletown Middle School School officials and police in a Connecticut district are investigating after multiple anti-semitic incidents occurred at a middle school. The incidents took place in Middlesex County at Beman Middle School in Middletown. In a letter to the community on Thursday, Feb. 29, Middletown School District Superintendent Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos said the incidents occurred in a bathroom at the school and included swastikas. "Let me be clear: there is no place for hate, intolerance, or discrimination of any kind in the Middletown Public Schools," Vázquez Matos wrote. "These act…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays A Connecticut school board's decision to remove two holidays that have traditionally given students a day off has sparked debate amongst community members, according to a report by ABC 7 New York.  The controversy began in Fairfield County following the Stamford School Board's decision to remove Veterans Day and Columbus Day from their calendar, which means students will not have them off for the next two years, according to an ABC7 report from Friday, Jan. 26.  Board members, who passed the decision in a 5-3 motion, have defended the decision by saying students should remain in s…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Danbury Schools Superintendent Resigns Suddenly For 'Personal Reasons' Danbury Schools Superintendent Resigns Suddenly For 'Personal Reasons'
Danbury Schools Superintendent Resigns Suddenly For 'Personal Reasons' A Fairfield County superintendent has announced his sudden resignation, school officials said.  Kevin Walston, the superintendent of Danbury Public Schools, has decided to resign from his position, the Danbury Board of Education announced on Friday night, Jan. 26.  Walston attributed his decision to "personal reasons," according to the school board, which added that he would remain on leave through Sunday, June 30.  "The Danbury Board of Education supports Mr. Walston’s decision and wishes him well as he takes the time necessary to address his personal issues," the…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports
Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports Claudine Gay is set to resign as Harvard University president after facing plagiarism accusations over her academic work and heavy criticism during a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. Gay is stepping down on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 2, after just six months and two days since being appointed president of the university, according to the Harvard Crimson. Her tenure is the shortest ever for a Harvard president, the newspaper reported.  Related: Harvard President Claudine Gay Gets Support From Faculty Her resignation comes after mounting allegations of plagiarism of her…

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by Khier Casino
Schools
Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports
Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports As the US House of Representatives is digging deeper into Harvard University President Claudine Gay’s academic work, the university said it had found more issues in connection to the matter. The Harvard Corporation, which oversees the university, said on Wednesday, Dec. 20 that Gay would request three corrections to her 1997 Ph.D. dissertation, the Harvard Crimson reported. The corrections follow an independent review by the corporation, which found that Gay had not properly attributed some of her sources but the incidents didn't rise to the level of serious wrongdoing, the Crimson reported…

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by Khier Casino
Schools
Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation
Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation Harvard University president Claudine Gay faces new allegations while some are calling for her resignation after they took issue with recent comments she made to Congress about anti-Semitism.  A report claims that Gay had plagiarized portions of her doctoral thesis. However, the prestigious university said it had looked into the matter and determined that she had not violated any of the school's research standards. Officials said two of her articles will receive corrections for "inadequate citation." The Harvard Corporation, which supervises the university, announced in a statement on …

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by Khier Casino
Schools
'Predatory, Grooming Behavior' Leads To Firing Of Bethel HS Coach, Officials Say 'Predatory, Grooming Behavior' Leads To Firing Of Bethel HS Coach, Officials Say
'Predatory, Grooming Behavior' Leads To Firing Of Bethel HS Coach, Officials Say A high school coach has been fired after a school district in Fairfield County received a "very serious report" from students before the Thanksgiving holiday. The assistant coach worked at Bethel High School, but was not an employee who worked in school buildings daily, according to officials. "The safety of our students is our highest priority and when that safety is compromised we take action," Bethel High School Principal Christopher Troetti and Superintendent of Schools Christine Carver said in a letter to the community.  After receiving the report, officials "immediately" co…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony
Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony Harvard President Claudine Gay is facing calls to resign after her congressional hearing on antisemitism went viral last week, but hundreds of university faculty are rallying behind her in support. An open letter, addressed to the Harvard Corporation, has reached 686 signatures from faculty members, according to the Harvard Crimson. Related: Gay Denies Plagiarism Claims As University Lends Its Support Faculty members wrote: “We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds …

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by Khier Casino
Schools
UPenn President Resigns After Backlash Over Congressional Testimony UPenn President Resigns After Backlash Over Congressional Testimony
UPenn President Resigns After Backlash Over Congressional Testimony Moments after it was announced that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was resigning, Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok followed suit. Magill, whose testimony to Congress on antisemitism earlier this week sparked widespread outrage, resigned on Saturday, Dec. 9. Bok later announced his resignation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Magill remains a faculty member at Penn Carey Law and will stay on as president until an interim president is appointment, UPenn Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok said in announcing the news Saturday evening. And Liz Magill has resig…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime
College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime A college community in Connecticut, alongside many nationwide, has been left reeling after a student of Palestinian descent was one of three shot in what appears to be a hate crime. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, age 20, who attends Trinity College in Hartford, was one of three men of the same age shot outside of a house in Burlington, Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 26, the school announced. Ali Ahmad and the two other men — Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani, also of Palestinian descent — were lifelong friends visiting a relative’s house near the University of Vermont's campus for the Thanksgiving holid…

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings
This School District In Fairfield County Among Top 13 In Nation, According To New Rankings Several school districts in the region rank among the best in the nation in brand-new rankings. TeachSimple analyzed reviews and ratings of each US school district and ranked them from highest to lowest, with 1 being the lowest, and 5 being the highest.  The scores are based on reviews from parents and students, statistics from the US Department of Education, and user-submitted information from schools.  The two top-ranked districts in New York and Connecticut are both in Nassau County on Long Island: No. 3 Roslyn Union Free SD has a high proficiency in both reading and math. T…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears
CT Colleges Face Large Cuts To Services, Price Hikes As Funding Disappears Colleges and regional universities across Connecticut are expecting a $140 million deficit next year now that pandemic-era funds are drying up, the CT Mirror reports. The Board of Regents of Higher Education, an organization that oversees that state's 12 community colleges, state universities, and the online Charter Oak College, said the cuts by state lawmakers tightening their budgets along with the loss of federal funding is equal to 11 percent of the entire state system budget, the outlet said. The University of Connecticut in Storrs and its satellite campuses are planning for a $70 mill…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside New Haven Elementary School, Officials Say Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside New Haven Elementary School, Officials Say
Custodian Stops Armed Man Outside New Haven Elementary School, Officials Say This story has been updated. A Connecticut school custodian is being credited with helping to apprehend a man with a gun outside of an elementary school. The incident took place outside of the Lincoln Bassett Community School at 130 Bassett St, New Haven on Wednesday, Nov. 8 in the morning. In a letter to parents and the community, school officials said the custodian noticed the distraught man, who was carrying a weapon, outside the school and approached him. "He was successful in de-escalating the situation," the letter said.  When New Haven Police arrived on the scene they fo…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell 21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell A student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has been accused of threatening to shoot, stab, and rape Jewish students at the Ivy League school. Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior originally from Pittsford, New York, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 31 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to prosecutors in the Northern District of New York. Dai allegedly posted threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish peopl…

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by Joe Lombardi