News, Happenings & Collaborations |
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Included in this Issue ... |
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We are pleased to share the following news, happenings, and collaborations with you! The information contained in this week's newsletter was shared with the Chamber on or before noon on the Thursday before it was sent. To have your information considered for inclusion in future issues, please submit your information on or before noon on the Thursday before you'd like it published. |
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- Summer Rendezvous
- Fireworks are on!
- Protect your melon
- Network at summer events
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- Leadership Schuyler Class of 2021
- Grand opening at Tame the Mane
- Farm Sanctuary is back
- Glenora in the Winner's Circle
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Visit Watkins Glen
& Schuyler County
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Watkins Glen
Area Chamber
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Pandemic Spotlight Updates
Even with the loosened restrictions for the pandemic, there are still reasons to check the CDC and State web sites for updates. Scroll down for helpful information. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date, but it is likely that there will be new updates as soon as we hit send!
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NY Forward & Other Government News
- Schuyler vaccine clinics & others
- Tuition/room/board give-away
- Join your neighbors and VaxUp
- $800 million in grants for small businesses available
- FEMA funds
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Join us at the
Chemung Canal
Trust Company
Summer Rendezvous!
Jumbo Jenga. Life-size Connect Four. Bocce. Summer grilling with Bleachers Bar and Grill and chilling with Lakewood Vineyards. Sound fun? We think so too! Register for the Chemung Canal Trust Company Summer Rendezvous at the Watkins Glen State Park. Each Chamber member receives a complimentary ticket. All other guests and staff are invited with a $15 entrance fee to cover food and fun. We're also planning a 50/50 raffle and prize drawings. Lakewood Vineyards will be on-site with a cash bar and Lucky Hare Brewing will offer tastings.
July 7, from 5pm to 8pm
Watkins Glen State Park
Iroquois Lodge
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Events going public
As of today, we're opening our summer events to teams from the community. Please encourage your business associates to join us for opportunities to network and develop stronger relationships with prospective partners and customers. Here's the summer line-up: Disc Golf (August 19); Corning Credit Union Cornhole Tourney (September 2); and the Chemung Canal Trust Company Golf Tournament (September 17). Register your team now to secure your spot online (link below). Also, we're looking for sponsors who want to share their message with Chamber members and the public. www.explorewatkinsglen.com/chamber-members/events/.
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Leadership Schuyler Class of 2021
Ten community professionals graduated from the annual Leadership Schuyler Program at a ceremony held last week at Mangus Farms. To earn this distinction, each student completed six months of two-hour virtual sessions held every other week. During sessions, students discussed management and leadership skills. Sessions were led by various invited speakers and facilitated by Michael Hardy
Congratulations to the following graduates:
- Amy Abbey, Retail Manager, Fulkerson Winery
- Tiffany Bloss, Director, Schuyler Health Foundation
- Michaela Christensen, Director of Events, Watkins Glen Promotions
- Clara LaBarr, Assistant Clinical Manager, Schuyler Hospital
- Kelly Miller, Business Manager, the Arc of Chemung-Schuyler
- Kristine Morseman, Executive Director, My Place: A Play and Learning Center
- Tracy Savard, Director, Watkins Glen Public Library
- Benjamin Slaton, Production Manager/Engineer, Cargill Salt
- Diana Warn, Administration/Production Clerk, Cargill Salt
- Cynthia Williams, Career Program Specialist, GST BOCES
“One of the biggest benefits of this program is the opportunity to network and build relationships, both with your classmates, community leaders, and with alumni of the program,” said Hardy. “Leadership Schuyler graduates are the future of our community. I’m excited for you to take what you’ve learned in this class, partnered with the connections you’ve made, and grow – professionally and personally.”
At the graduation ceremony, Schuyler County Administrator Tim O’Hearn reinforced the value of strong relationships and the power of creative thinking.
“It’s important to build strong relationships,” said O’Hearn. “You may be working with potential investors and interacting with future decision-makers. I hope that you will bring innovative thinking to all of these interactions and stay away from bureaucratic thinking. A lot of good work happens when we think creatively.”
Photo caption: (from left): Wendy Shutter, Michaela Christensen, Amy Abbey, Michael Hardy, Tiffany Bloss, Clara LaBarr, Tim O’Hearn, Cynthia Williams, Kelly Miller, Tracy Savard, Kristine Morseman. (Absent: Benjamin Slaton and Diana Warn)
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Fireworks on July 4
They're on! After taking a year off for the pandemic, the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to present the traditional July 4 fireworks show with support from the Cargill Salt and our media partner Seven Mountains Radio. Fireworks will be launched from Clute Park toward the lake. Nestle in at your favorite viewing site around 9:30 for an approximate 9:45 start time. The pyrotechnics display will be presented by Young Explosives with a rain date of July 5.
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Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting celebration
Please join the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce for the grand opening of Tame the Mane, a hair salon in Watkins Glen. The event is scheduled for June 30, 2021, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 109 West Fourth Street, Watkins Glen, N.Y. Light refreshments will be available and Seneca Lodge Brewing will be on tap with a selection of locally made brews.
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Protect your melon (auto safety)!
New York State was the first state in the nation to require adult front seat motor vehicle passengers to wear seat belts. In subsequent years, the law was amended to include child passenger safety requirements. On November 1st, 2020 a provision was included to require all adult occupants to buckle up, regardless of where they sit in a passenger vehicle, Taxi, Livery, or a vehicle being used as a Transportation Network Company, i.e. Lyft or Uber. Although the NYS seat belt compliance rate is 94 percent, nearly one-third of all front seat occupants killed in a motor vehicle crash are unbuckled. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has partnered with eighth generation watermelon farmer and NASCAR driver Ross Chastain to encourage all passengers to buckle up, every trip, every time through the Protect Your Melon campaign. Look for Ross in the Protect Your Melon race truck at Watkins Glen International NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday August 7. If you would like a chance to win a one-on-one virtual meeting with Ross, scan the QR code.
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Marketing & networking
opps still available
Visitors are here. Summer is here.
Share your message with several
great marketing opportunities
with the Chamber.
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Questions? Contact Executive Director Michael Hardy: michael@watkinsglenchamber.com or (607) 535-4300.
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Let the Chamber know about
your events and summer traditions
Let us help you celebrate summer traditions, holidays, and festivities! We want to share your events on our social media platforms and newsletters. Like us on all our social channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), and we’ll return the favor! Using this form, (https://www.explorewatkinsglen.com/events/submit-your-event/) please submit your public event to notify the Chamber and its staff. Pending membership the Chamber will assist in promoting the event to visitors and locals alike!
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Hints from Hardy
Business and hospitality hints
from Michael Hardy
HINT 1 How much will your visitors spend
In a recent article, Groups Today reminded us that tourism is starting to make a comeback around the country, although tourists may be coming to us with different spending habits. The article shares survey results from data collected by ValuePenguin that detail what your visitors and guests are willing to pay. I invite you to check it out.
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Join us
for "Talking Tuesdays"
Chat with the Chamber about pressing issues for tourism-based businesses in the Finger Lakes. The next "Talking Tuesdays" will be July 13 from 10:00am to 11am. These sessions are comprised of brainstorming, planning, information from the Chamber, and from time to time a guest speaker. At most upcoming sessions, we will review Domo+rove mobile device data collected for 2019, 2020, and into 2021. These mobile device stats are great for making marketing and advertising decisions for your businesses, both in the short- and long-terms. All tourism-based members and partners are welcome. All sessions are held via Zoom, and advance RSVP is not required. Coffee break, snacking, and /or brown-bag lunches during zoom are encouraged.
Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 874 4108 3852
Passcode: 896020
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Free webinars of interest
Today! NYS M/WBE Certification Application Process: Presented by Empire State Development’s Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development to demystify the NYS M/WBE certification process for businesses interested in becoming certified as an M/WBE. It will familiarize businesses with the benefits of certification, the virtual platform to apply, and the application and certification process. June 28 at 1:00 pm. Register here.
Tomorrow & Wednesday! Renewable Energy Conference: Explore how New York plans on achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030, a fully decarbonized electric generating sector by 2040, and state-wide net-zero emissions by 2050. The conference will focus on the benefits and impacts of these policy changes through panel discussions on the development and deployment of on -and- offshore wind and solar resources, the reduction of emissions in the transportation sector, and more. June 29 and 30. Register here.
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Free HIV testing
Arnot Health’s HIV Clinic will be observing National HIV Testing Day by offering free rapid HIV tests from June 28 to July 2 in locations in Elmira and Ithaca. The rapid HIV test provides results in 20 minutes. While walk-ins will be accepted for the testing, appointments are preferred. To schedule an appointment, please call 607-795-8161 or text 607-742-0044.
Hours of testing are:
- Monday and Tuesday in Elmira 8 am to 4 :30 pm
- Wednesday in Elmira 8 am to 5:30 pm
- Thursday in Ithaca 9 am to 12 pm
- Friday in Elmira 8 am to 3:30 pm
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Member News & Collaborations |
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Interpretation services expanded at CMC
Cayuga Medical Center recently received a $5,000 Community Health Award grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to expand its capacity to provide high quality, equitable health care services for people whose primary language is not English. This initiative increases the number of electronic devices available for interpretation services in order to provide direct audio and visual interpretation in real-time for the duration of a patient’s stay. Funding will also support training and education for staff to ensure that patients who need interpretation services are able to access them and have a positive experience with their care at Cayuga Medical Center.
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Farm Sanctuary is back on July 10
We are happy to report that the Farm Sanctuary will resume in-person tours on July 10. Plan approximately an hour for a visit and arrive 15 minutes ahead of your tour. Here in Watkins, guided tours are offered July through October, with a maximum of 15 guests per tour.
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Sunday: 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for updates on the tiny houses and cabins at our Watkins Glen sanctuary! The B&B program will reopen in August.
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Cow cuddling gets
national attention
Congratulations to Sunset View Creamery's Jess May for an article about cow cuddling that has gone national. It was first printed in Hornell's Evening Tribune and then picked up by USA Today. The article is available by searching USA Today's web site, but it does require a subscription to read.
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Schuyler CCE & SCOPED spark agri-innovation
Carl Taber is part of a Schuyler County-Cornell partnership, with inspiration from SCOPED, to test the viability of growing chickpeas in Schuyler County and across the state. If it works, the pilot project could offer New York farmers a way to diversify their crops – and rev the region’s economic engine, giving Finger Lakes food manufacturers a more cost-effective, sustainable source for chickpeas. Check out the video and complete story.
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Start planning:
Everybody prospers from
a clean Finger Lakes
Chamber member Bob Kurz (of Watkins Glen Wine and Spirits) is "a local guy trying to make a difference," and he wants to give others the chance to help him. He is spearheading a Fall Community Clean-Up Day on September 18. Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors to join the effort. Capture your efforts with pictures and send for posting on the effort's Facebook page! Stop by the Village Marina that day for their special: a Garbage Plate! If you'd like to offer a special in your restaurant that day, please let us know so we can help you share. More here: http://ow.ly/Y8KF50FhQGn
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Art at War
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum officials announced today that their new Art at War Exhibit opened to the public on Saturday, June 12, and will hang through the fall of 2021. The Art of War: Squadron Insignia from the Curtiss Collection Exhibit started as part of a relatively simple, yet tedious effort to catalog their collection of 60 years in more detail. During the process they came across some long, slim archival boxes containing a series of canvas rolls. As they gently unrolled each one from the first box, images began to appear for the first time in decades: a parrot, a hound, a duck with an umbrella, an alligator and a beautiful ladybug. It wasn’t until they had them all together and rolled out that they realized the true scale of their collection of aircraft fabric art. Make plans to visit: https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/. Share this with your guests, customers, and front-line staffs so they all know!
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Glenora heads to Winner's Circle
Glenora Wine Cellars is now the official champagne of Watkins Glen International in a multi-year partnership that will bring the winery’s Brut Champagne to Victory Lane at the famed road course through 2023. Glenora Wine Cellars holds the distinction of being the first winery located on Seneca Lake, opening in 1977. According to WGI President Michael Printup: “The champagne spray is an iconic victory celebration, and Glenora Wine Cellars is iconic in the Finger Lakes wine region.”
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Live entertainment returns
Looking for live entertainment? In addition to those mentioned last week, we've learned that the Lafayette Park Concert Series will return for the 2021 season, kicking off on July 6 with the Dixie Five Plus Band. Ed Clute will be on the ivories. Read more about Ed in the next issue of the Engager, which will be mailed in mid-July. Live entertainment is also scheduled for Sundays throughout the summer at Chamber member Arrowhead Creek Golf Course (Rt 230 in Hammondsport). If you're hosting any music, please add to the Chamber's events calendar and let us know.
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Grants to promote quality of life
The Watkins-Montour Rotary Club is now accepting requests for community grants for projects to promote the quality of life in Schuyler County. Grants will range generally from $100 to $1,000. Written requests must be postmarked by July 1 to Watkins-Montour Rotary Club, Donations Committee, P.O. Box 384, Watkins Glen, N.Y. 14891. Contact Tony Fraboni for information that must be included in your grant request (anthony.fraboni@cbna.com).
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Chamber member featured in news
Want to know more about Hill Top Inn? Check out this feature in Southern Tier Life. If you've been featured in an article, please let us know so we can help you celebrate.
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Congrats to Cayuga Health
Cayuga Health is the recipient of two prestigious National Healthcare Advertising Awards – a Gold for their COVID-19 Public Relations Campaign and a Silver for the Cayuga Health Giving Day Fundraising Campaign focused on COVID-19 recovery and response. Over 4,400 submissions were received for the 38th Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards, making it the largest healthcare advertising awards competition and one of the ten largest of all advertising awards. Gold awards were given to 445 entries, silver awards to 322 entries and bronze awards to 245 entries.
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Watkins Glen State Park Update
Please share with your front-line staffs, visitors, friends, and families: The Watkins Glen State Park is now fully open -- all trails, both directions. The shuttle runs on weekends from 9 to 5:30, but watch for that to transition to a daily schedule with the July 4 weekend! Also, tour groups and buses are welcome again! Please spread the word. If you're welcoming motor coach groups, please let the Chamber know.
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Celebrate PRIDE with the Rockwell
Celebrate Pride with the Rockwell Museum during the month of June. Participate in the Corning and worldwide celebration of the LGBTQ+ community by engaging with art and arts experiences in various ways. The Rockwell is offering the following activities June 1 – 30:
- Our new Self-guided Pride Tour features queer artists in the Rockwell’s collection.
- Free Rainbow Mosaic Suncatcher Art-On-The-Go kits are available in the Museum Store starting June 1. The project was created by local artist, Victoria Holton and is designed for children ages 5 to 12. While supplies last.
- Rainbow Social Media Challenge – Take a selfie during your Rockwell Museum experience inspired by the colors of the rainbow and share on social media using #RockwellMuseum, #Rainbow and #CorningPride. Choose an artwork that predominately features colors that inspire or represent you and how you feel. Once you post the image to your feed with the hashtags, click on them to see a rainbow wall of images! Add a caption about why the colors inspired you!
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City of Geneva begins construction work
as part of DRI grant
Please be aware (and let your front-line staff and visitors know) that the City of Geneva-led DRI Streetscape project has commenced and a new app is available to track progress in real-time. To access the app, request the QR code sgerling@geneva.ny.us. This work will likely "pose some navigation challenges," according to the Geneva Business District.
By the way the Chamber has purchased an informational sponsor banner "driving" visitors to www.explorewatkinsglen.com. The banner will be hung in the Business Improvement District (BID) in downtown Geneva sometime this summer.
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A'maze'ing Acres opens for season
Are you or your visitors looking for something to do? Owner Eleanor Liebson, from A'maze'ing Acres, invites you to spend some time in nature with a hedge maze, playhouse, and more. The attraction is now open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays or by appointment with advance notice. Like all opportunities in the Finger Lakes, it's best to call ahead. 607-592-5493 or 607-582-6727 (cell). A note from Eleanor to parents: children never want to leave! You may need an incentive to get them back in the car! This is one of many things people can do to extend their stay in Schuyler County. Do you have an activity or reopening that we can share for you?
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GOT NEWS? THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR
LODGING MEMBER UPDATES
Any and all accommodation members are welcome to share their food, entertainment, and packages with the Chamber. We will help spread the word here in our e-news and on our social media platforms and website. Send us a note, please! Also, be sure to post your offers for public and members on the the WGACC Bulletin Board when you are checking out and/or updating your listing on the Simpleview Extranet.
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Grants for small businesses
The successful recovery of small businesses is key to New York State's future. Empire State Development is happy to announce the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is open now. It was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses, and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York who have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grant awards will be calculated based on a business’ annual gross receipts for 2019:
•Annual gross receipts = $25,000-$49,999: $5,000/business;
•Annual gross receipts = $50,000-$99,999: $10,000/business; and
•Annual gross receipts = $100,000-$500,000: 10% of gross receipts (max grant is $50,000).
For eligibility requirements and more information regarding the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Program, please visit www.nysmallbusinessrecovery.com. The program is administered by ESD and powered by Lendistry.
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Non-medical private non-profits: apply for FEMA funds
Because the pandemic was declared a Major Disaster and is ongoing, public assistance is authorized for Category B Emergency Protective Measures related to the COVID-19 response. To mitigate the pandemic’s impact on nonprofits, New York State is launching a targeted initiative to provide information and training to NON-MEDICAL Private Nonprofits (PNPs) and intermediary organizations applying for FEMA funding to reimburse costs incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. PNPs and their umbrella organizations are invited to FEMA overview sessions, offering an overview of the FEMA public assistance process as well as a number of COVID-19 disaster-specific topics and policies that FEMA has implemented. For more details on the initiative and related resources, please access the Grants Gateway site. To register for the informational overview, see below for next steps or access the Grants Gateway for more information.
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Arts funding to help COVID recovery
$105 million in arts and cultural funding is available through the New York State Council on the Arts, to reinvigorate near-term live performances. Apps are being accepted now. The grants will aid in the arts sector's multi-year recovery from COVID-19. For more info: 518-474-8390
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Vaccine clinic info
In Schuyler County?
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Wednesday, July 7, 2021, from 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM at the Great Escape Ice Cream Parlor
- The single-dose Janssen Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine will be provided at this walk-in clinic.
- Adults 18 and older are currently eligible to get this vaccine.
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Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Grist Iron Brewing Company
- The single-dose Janssen Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine will be provided at this walk-in clinic.
- Adults 18 and older are currently eligible to get this vaccine.
- All those participating will get a pint from Grist Iron -- at no cost.
Stay informed:
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PROMOTE YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS
Add your happenings to the Public Events Calendar on our website!
Add your event quickly, easily, and at no cost. Click here for the submission page.
SHARE YOUR NEWS — VIA CHAMBER SOCIAL MEDIA & ENEWS
We will gladly feature your upcoming events and news on our social media channels and in our newsletter.
Contact Michael at (585) 721-6032 or send him your news
CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER TEAM
Office Phone: (607) 535-4300
Katherine Jack, Visitor Center and Office Administrator email
Abby Lane, Events and Membership-Engagement Manager email
Stephanie Specchio, Director of Communications and Marketing email
Karen Dodson, Membership (Part-Time/Contract) email
Michael Hardy, Executive Director email and (585) 721-6032 (cell)
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