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● The Greater Stouffville Chamber of Commerce has inducted inaugural members of the new Greater Stouffville Business Hall of Fame. ● The initiative recognizes local pioneers who have played pivotal roles in shaping Stouffville’s business community. ● 2024 honourees include Marvin, Keith, and the late Ken Betz of Betz Pools; Percy and the late Harry and Wesley Schell of Schell Lumber; Graydon Card of Card’s Appliances; Jay Reesor of Reesor’s Market; and sisters Patti Thompson, Debbi Conzelmann, Robin Kelly, and Jackie Fisher of King Cole Ducks. ● To honour the inductees, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will create a commemorative wall at Town Hall in 2025. ● A celebratory dinner hosted by the Chamber on Nov. 26 introduced the Hall of Fame members and highlighted their contributions to Stouffville. “The Greater Stouffville Business Hall of Fame was created to recognize the trailblazers who helped shape Stouffville’s business landscape,” Chamber President David Elie said in his opening remarks. “It serves as a testament to the enduring impact of leadership, vision, and hard work, celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship, and drives the community forward.” The event drew more than 230 attendees, including Mayor Iain Lovatt, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, York Region Chairman Wayne Emmerson, Stouffville’s Ward Councillors, and senior Town Staff, as well as local business owners and residents. Lovatt, Scarpitti, and Emmerson joined Chamber board members to introduce the Hall of Fame inductees. “Stouffville has been incorporated for 147 years, and in that time there have been significant businesses established that have become foundational to our local identity,” Lovatt told Bullet Point News. “The inaugural inductees to the Business Hall of Fame are and will continue to be synonymous with Stouffville, and I was proud to play a small role in honouring them last evening.” Marvin and Keith Betz of Betz Pools, alongside their late father Ken, were inducted for their regional and international successes in pool construction and custom backyard design. The company was founded by Ken in 1945 after a client’s request for a custom pool during a home-building project, and they were recognized for their efforts in hiring locally whenever possible. Graydon Card was honoured for his customer-focused approach through nearly six decades as owner of Card’s Appliances, a family business established in 1968. Originally a hardware store, the business transitioned its focus to appliances in 1994 and has become a community fixture. Now 84, Card is a founding member of the Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce and remains active in the business, which is now run by the next generation of the Card family. Jay Reesor, a prominent figure in the Markham and Stouffville communities, was recognized for his contributions to local agriculture and business. Building on his family’s farming legacy dating back to 1804, Reesor founded Reesor’s Farm Market and Reesor’s Market & Bakery. He began his career in 1984 and has recently passed the business to younger members of the Reesor family. Percy and the late Harry and Wesley Schell were welcomed to the Hall of Fame for their contributions to Stouffville through Schell Lumber, originally founded in 1922 as the Stouffville Planing Mill. Now operated by the fourth generation, the business has been instrumental in home construction throughout the community and is well known for supporting local sports teams and events. Sisters Patti Thompson, Debbi Conzelmann, Robin Kelly, and Jackie Fisher, granddaughters of King Cole Ducks Ltd. founder James Murby, were awarded their place for growing the family business into Canada’s largest producer of duck products. Processing approximately 2.5 million ducks annually, the company has earned accolades for its sustainable agricultural practices, environmental efforts, and global reach, as well as their downstream production of compost. Nominations and selections for the Hall of Fame were made by the Greater Stouffville Chamber’s board of directors and staff through community consultation. The Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville has also offered a wall in the Municipal Offices building to recognize Hall of Fame members. “I’m excited to announce that we have a permanent home for the Hall of Fame in the new year,” said Christian Buhagiar, the Chamber’s Executive Director. ““Our inaugural inductees, along with all of our future inductees, will be showcased and honoured right outside Council Chambers. So our business community can make sure it keeps an eye on Council, as well,” he joked. The dinner also marked the Chamber’s formal rebranding announcement. Formerly known as the Whitchurch-Stouffville Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Stouffville Chamber now boasts a membership of approximately 400 businesses and organizations. Its updated identity is meant to reflect its growing place within the region’s business community. “This new identity will serve as a beacon for the collaborative spirit we strive to represent,” Buhagiar said. “It captures the spirit and ambition of the Chamber and our community and aligns with our mission to unlock greatness and shine a spotlight on all the potential that lies within the greater Stouffville region.”None

Brazil's top court takes on regulation of social media

U.S. stocks could start their year-end rally as early as this week, a top Wall Street analyst suggested Friday, as markets break out of their post-election malaise and power toward what could be a record year for the S&P 500. Goldman Sachs analyst Scott Rubner, the bank's global markets managing director who earlier this month pegged a year-end target for the S&P 500 of 6,300 points, says stocks are set for a solid holiday season bounce following a week in which the benchmark has gained around 1.3% to take its 2024 advance past 24%. "US equities have been in a consolidation phase all week, which is typical going back to 1928," Rubner said in a client note published Friday. "Next week typically starts the year-end rally, including some of the best trading days of the year into Thanksgiving.” Rubner said the year-end rally in an election year "typically extends into early January" before "typically fading right before Inauguration Day” on Jan. 20. Goldman Sachs data, which track the market's performance from Election Day to the end of the year going back to 1928, notes a 3.4% average gain for the S&P 500. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images This year the benchmark has printed more than 50 all-time highs and added nearly $6 trillion in overall market value and is on pace to deliver the best year-on-year advance in history. Stocks bull-market trend is continuing Wall Street analysts, many of whom are issuing new forecasts for 2025, are uniformly bullish on stocks heading into year-end, citing the combined impact of Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, a resilient domestic economy, and pro-growth policy proposals from President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. Mary Ann Bartels, chief investment strategist at Sanctuary Wealth, sees the gains lasting even longer. Related: Nvidia earnings adjust chances for S&P 500 record year "We are in a secular bull market [and] we believe this bull trend has another five years," she said, adding that "the current phase is similar to the period of 1995-2000 and possibly from 1925-1929." During the mid-1990s, which Bartels described as the "first advancement to the Digital Era," stocks rallied 20% for five years straight while weathering outsized corrections tied to an Asia currency crisis and the collapse of the Long Term Capital Management hedge fund. Longer-term S&P target: 10,000? "For 2025, we expect the S&P 500 to continue its gains with a target range of 7200 to 7400 points," she argued, citing levels indicating a 24% gain from Friday's close on Wall Street. "But we believe the longer-term track is for the S&P 500 over the back end of the decade to reach 8,000-10,000 points," she added. "We believe this is fundamentally driven by the productivity gains from AI and a strong U.S. economy, aided by maintaining lower corporate taxes, lower interest rates, and the ongoing stimulus from the Biden Administration’s pieces of legislation that allows companies to continue to post strong earnings growth." Related: Analyst revamps S&P 500 target for 2025 Collective third-quarter profits for the S&P 500 are set to rise 8.8% from last year to $527.4 billion and are forecast to add another 9.8% over the final three months of the 2024. More Wall Street Analysts: LSEG data also suggest earnings will rise 14.1% next year, and a recent Wells Fargo update forecast the benchmark's overall profits at $275 a share amid the potential for new corporate tax cuts and looser regulation from the Trump administration. Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, sees the U.S. economy growing 2.5% next year, an above-trend forecast tied in part to a resilient labor market, slowing inflation pressures and robust consumer spending. Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocksLPL Financial to present at the Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference

Testimony begins in Bow pink wristband lawsuit

The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy week

VANCOUVER - A family of killer whales has made a rare trip into waters off downtown Vancouver for what an expert says was likely a “grocery shopping” hunt for harbour seals. Video shared on social media by False Creek Ferries shows the whales cruising past highrise towers at the entrance to False Creek on Sunday. Andrew Trites, director of the University of British Columbia’s marine mammal research unit, has identified the whales as a family group of transient orcas consisting of a mother and her three offspring. Trites said the video shows the whales moving quietly like “ghosts” to avoid alerting their prey. The larger orcas appear bigger than the diminutive ferry, which measures about 20 feet long. “They’re on the hunt, and so they don’t want to make a big splash about it. They want to come in very stealthy-like, as though they weren’t even there,” said Trites. “I’m sure there were hundreds of people walking along the seawall that day and they didn’t even notice and these people aboard the boat, they had a very special moment they will remember for the rest of their lives.” He said it’s the first time the 26-year-old mother orca, known as T35A, has shown up in downtown Vancouver with her children aged six, 11 and 14. Trites said the well documented family has previously been seen by marine researchers from Alaska to the Strait of Juan de Fuca south of Vancouver Island. He attributes the pod’s surprising downtown appearance to seals also changing their habits as they hide from orcas, forcing killer whales to hunt in backwater areas like False Creek. Killer whales have previously been spotted in False Creek, including in 2019, and in 2010 a grey whale swam all the way to the end of the inlet, near Science World. Trites said researchers are hearing more reports of killer whales being seen in places where they’ve never been seen before. He said the behaviour captured on the video suggests the whales didn’t catch anything. Trites said the sighting was an indication of the recovered health of the Salish Sea, saying it was “in a state that we haven’t seen it for over a century.” He likened it to living next to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. “It’s a very healthy, vibrant system ... we’ve seen humpback whales come back. We’ve seen our seal numbers recover and stabilize,” he said. “We see killer whales here every single day now and when I first came to B.C., I hardly ever saw a seal, never saw killer whales in here and it’s all changed.” In 2021, the B.C. government estimated there were 206 “mature” transient orcas in the province’s coastal waters, while U.S. authorities have put the total population at about 350. The species is designated as threatened, meaning they are likely to become endangered without interventions. But Trites said the population was growing, in association with the recovery of prey species, such as the Steller sea lion. As a marine researcher who has been through many encounters with killer whales, Trites said those aboard the ferry should feel privileged. “They are magical experiences,” he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024.Renewed sectarian clashes kill 32 in Pakistan’s northwestAston Villa had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home at the death, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MyYL5Vdy3r — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Emiliano Martinez had earlier displayed why he was named the best goalkeeper in the world as his wonder save kept his side level in the second half. The Argentina international paraded his two Yashin Trophies on the pitch before kick-off at Villa Park and then showed why he won back-to-back FIFA awards when he denied Francisco Conceicao. Before Rogers’ moment of drama in the fourth minute of added time, the closest Villa came to scoring was in the first half when Lucas Digne’s free-kick hit the crossbar. But a draw was a fair result which leaves Villa out of the top eight on goal difference and Juventus down in 19th. Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. The opening 30 minutes were forgettable before the game opened up. Ollie Watkins, still chasing his first Champions League goal, had Villa’s first presentable chance as he lashed an effort straight at Di Gregorio. Matty Cash then had a vicious effort from the resulting corner which was blocked by Federico Gatti and started a counter-attack which ended in Juventus striker Timothy Weah. Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half when Digne’s 20-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Martinez then produced his brilliant save just after the hour. A corner made its way through to the far post where Conceicao was primed to head in at the far post, but Martinez sprawled himself across goal to scoop the ball away. How has he kept that one out?! 🤯 Emi Martinez with an INCREDIBLE save to keep it goalless at Villa Park ⛔️ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/OkcWHB7YIk — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Replays showed most of the ball went over the line, but the Argentinian got there with millimetres to spare. At the other end another fine goal-line block denied John McGinn as Manuel Locatelli got his foot in the way with Di Gregorio beaten. The game looked to be petering out until a last-gasp free-kick saw Rogers slam home, but whistle-happy official Gil Manzano halted the celebrations by ruling the goal out.

Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem , has died. She was 69. A representative for the rapper confirmed the death to multiple publications, including Variety and People , saying she died from complications of lung cancer. Nelson and her son were known for their turbulent relationship over the years. While she was the subject of one of her son’s most famous song lyrics — “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy / There’s vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti ” from 2002’s Lose Yourself — plenty of his lyrics directed at his mother weren’t quite so innocuous. In fact, at one point, Nelson sued her famous son , reports Variety, winning US$10 million after arguing she had been defamed in the 1999 hit My Name Is (“I just found out my mom does more dope than I do,” Eminem rapped.) Nelson raised Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers) and his half-brother, Nathan, as a single mother after Eminem’s dad, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., walked out on the family shortly after Eminem was born. As his star rose, he mined his fraught relationship with his mom for his lyrics, accusing her of using drugs and being neglectful and the “crazy one” in various songs, including Kill You , Cleanin’ Out My Closet and My Mom . But he wasn’t the only one to put words to song over the disappointing relationship; in 2000, Nelson released her own diss-track, directed at her son, titled Dear Marshall . “Will the real Marshall Mathers please stand up / And take responsibility for his actions?” she asked in the spoken word track. She also attempted to clear her name with a book in 2008 titled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem . “‘My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem’ is her rebuttal to these widely believed lies — a poignant story of a single mother who wanted the world for her son, only to see herself defamed and shut out when he got it,” reads the book’s description. Despite the animosity, however, Eminem occasionally found softer words when speaking about Nelson. “Even though we don’t really speak, she is my mother, I do love her ,” he told BET in 2011, according to E! News, adding, “and I think I got a better understanding of what she was going through or what she may be going through.” Two years later, he dropped the track Headlights , with an apology to his mom. “’Cause to this day we remain estranged, and I hate it though / ‘Cause you ain’t even get to witness your grandbabies grow,” he rapped. “But I’m sorry, mama for ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’ / At the time I was angry, rightfully? Maybe so / Never meant that far to take it though / ‘Cause now I know it’s not your fault, and I’m not makin’ jokes / That song I no longer play at shows / And I cringe every time it’s on the radio.” More recently, Nelson sent her well wishes when her son was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Marshall, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction to the Hall of Fame,” she said in part of a video shared by the social media account The Shadyverse. “I love you very much. I knew you’d get there. And it’s been a long ride.”In recent news, foreign media outlets have been abuzz with discussions surrounding the playing time of basketball superstar LeBron James. The debate stems from the increasing amount of minutes that James has been logging on the court, leading to concerns about his workload and potential impact on his performance and longevity.

Kemi Badenoch has said that migrants could lose access to benefits under a future Conservative government as she admitted that her party got it wrong when it was in government. The Tory leader said that the Conservative Party must accept that it made mistakes by allowing migration to hit record levels when it was in office. She said that she shared public anger over the issue and pledged to rebuild trust with voters ahead of the next election as she vowed to learn from past mistakes. In a speech in central London, Badenoch said that the Tories would look at stripping migrants of access to benefits and public services. “We have to look after the people who are in this country, the British citizens, first,” she said. “Our welfare system is not an international welfare system and we have organised it in such a way that other people are able to take advantage of it in an unaffordable manner.”