The J.M. Smucker Co. Completes the Divestiture of Voortman® Brand to Second Nature Brands and Updates Fiscal Year 2025 Net Sales OutlookBEIRUT (AP) — In 2006, after a bruising monthlong war between Israel and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militant group, the unanimously voted for a resolution to end the conflict and pave the way for lasting security along the border. But while there was relative calm for nearly two decades, Resolution 1701’s terms were never fully enforced. Now, figuring out how to finally enforce it is key to approved by Israel on Tuesday. In late September, after nearly , the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah spiraled into all-out war and an . As Israeli jets pound deep inside Lebanon and Hezbollah fires rockets deeper into northern Israel, U.N. and diplomatic officials again turned to the 2006 resolution in Years of deeply divided politics and regionwide geopolitical hostilities have halted substantial progress on its implementation, yet the international community believes Resolution 1701 is still the brightest prospect for long-term stability between Israel and Lebanon. Almost two decades after the last war between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States led shuttle diplomacy efforts between Lebanon and Israel to agree on a ceasefire proposal that renewed commitment to the resolution, this time with an implementation plan to try to bring the document back to life. What is UNSC Resolution 1701? In 2000, Israel withdrew its forces from most of southern Lebanon along a U.N.-demarcated “Blue Line” that separated the two countries and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, which most of the world considers occupied Syrian territory. , increased their presence along the line of withdrawal. Resolution 1701 was supposed to complete Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and ensure Hezbollah would move north of the Litani River, keeping the area exclusively under the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers. Up to 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers would help to maintain calm, return displaced Lebanese and secure the area alongside the Lebanese military. The goal was long-term security, with land borders eventually demarcated to resolve territorial disputes. The resolution also reaffirmed previous ones that call for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon — Hezbollah among them. “It was made for a certain situation and context,” Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese army general, told The Associated Press. “But as time goes on, the essence of the resolution begins to hollow.” Has Resolution 1701 been implemented? For years, Lebanon and Israel blamed each other for countless violations along the tense frontier. Israel said Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and growing arsenal remained, and accused the group of using a to spy on troops. Lebanon complained about Israeli military jets and even when there was no active conflict. “You had a role of the UNIFIL that slowly eroded like any other peacekeeping with time that has no clear mandate,” said Joseph Bahout, the director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the American University of Beirut. “They don’t have permission to inspect the area without coordinating with the Lebanese army.” UNIFIL for years has urged Israel to but to no avail. In the ongoing war, the , of obstructing and harming its forces and infrastructure. Hezbollah’s power, meanwhile, has grown, both in its arsenal and as a political influence in the Lebanese state. The Iran-backed group was essential in keeping in power when armed opposition groups tried to topple him, and it supports Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen. It has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles pointed at Israel, and . Hanna says Hezbollah “is something never seen before as a non-state actor” with political and military influence. How do mediators hope to implement 1701 almost two decades later? Israel’s security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday. for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah underscored that they still view the resolution as key. For almost a year, Washington has promoted various versions of a deal that would gradually lead to its full implementation. International mediators hope that by boosting financial support for the Lebanese army — which was not a party in the Israel-Hezbollah war — Lebanon can deploy some 6,000 additional troops south of the Litani River to help enforce the resolution. Under the deal, an international monitoring committee headed by the United States would oversee implementation to ensure that Hezbollah and Israel’s withdrawals take place. It is not entirely clear how the committee would work or how potential violations would be reported and dealt with. The circumstances now are far more complicated than in 2006. Some are still skeptical of the resolution’s viability given that the political realities and balance of power both regionally and within Lebanon have dramatically changed since then. “You’re tying 1701 with a hundred things,” Bahout said. “A resolution is the reflection of a balance of power and political context.” Now with the ceasefire in place, the hope is that Israel and Lebanon can begin negotiations to demarcate their land border and settle disputes over several points along the Blue Line for long-term security after decades of conflict and tension. Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press1. An interactive Fingerlings baby monkey — it'll make kiddos feel like they've *finally* won over mom and dad and secured a pet of their very own! It's filled with sensors that respond to touch and features 70+ sounds and reactions. Also... it's just really darn adorable. Promising review: "My daughter is obsessed with this little monkey, super cute and interactive!" — Krista Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in blue and purple). 2. A tiny baking set complete with a 48-page recipe book — your kiddo will be over the moon to finally get a chance to try their hand at baking after all the cooking challenge shows you've been watching together. The set comes with a storage tin, rolling pin, wee knife, pizza/dough cutter, mixing spoon, three wee spoons, mixing bowl, pizza/pie pan, pie server, sheet pan, silicone cake and cupcake molds, two silicone finger mitts, and a 48-page recipe book. Promising review: " My 9-year-old daughter LOVES this — OK, more like is obsessed with this! Everything holds up and is durable. The recipes are so simple to follow. She takes over the kitchen and does everything by herself. Cook things in the toaster oven. She makes us delicious cinnamon rolls, apple pies, pizzas...everything! Everything is written and geared to have a child be able to do it. We have told all her friends, and they all have this, too! The kids on the street all come to our house just so they can tiny bake! Every kid needs one of these!" — Summer Get it from Amazon for $22.99 . 3. An activity pad to show little ones how to correctly use scissors — a skill we *all* could likely work on, TBH. It comes with safety scissors (obviously) and a book filled with mazes, puzzles, animal art, sequencing activities, and more! Promising review: "Scissors skills are important both in and of themselves and because it strengthens the hand muscles to be used for learning to write. My 4-year-old LOVES this book. We received it this week and she has used it for a couple of hours each day. Many of the pages are cutting things out and putting them together (four-scoop ice cream cone, pizza with pepperonis, the components to build a house or a car, puzzles). We've used tape or glue to put the components together. This book is interesting enough to have caught the attention of my older children as well, although I make them let her do the cutting. :D Would make a great gift as it is so unique." — Mom of 7 Get it from Amazon for $7.99. 4. A " Liquipen " for anyone who grew up with a lava lamp but knows setting one up for their kids is not a great idea. Watching the little blobs float up and down will hopefully help calm their chaotic energy for a bit and give *you* a chance to breathe. Promising review: "I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in stockings for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." — Kindle Customer Get a set of three from Amazon for $15.99 . 5. An updated version of the Taylor Swift Little Golden Book that'll elicit excited screams from your mini Swiftie. The new *~style~* comes with 22 (ooOoOh ooOoOh) bonus pages including stickers and fill-in-the-blank activities. You might find see a lil' Travis cameo within. 😉 I have this book (as pictured above) and by that I mean the second I saw it available for pre-order I added it to my cart faster than you could say "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." As the parent of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old, I have many Little Golden Books in my home. However, this one is just STUNNING. I'm a big fan of Taylor (obviously) but was really enamored by how beautiful the pages in the first version was — so, naturally, I had to get the updated version! It's a short book, looks cute on my daughter's shelf, and is a hit for bedtime story time with my son who has, ahem, been mildly encouraged to *also* love Taylor Swift. What more could you want??? Get it from Amazon for $8.78 . 6. Silly Poopy's Hide and Seek — which is pretty much exactly what you'd think it is. It's a rainbow, light-up poop-shaped toy your littles can take turns hiding throughout the house. It'll shout out clues and play a song when it's finally found! Promising review: " This game is HILARIOUS. My kids love playing with it and taking turns hiding it (8, 6, and 3 years). They all think poop is funny and run around yelling 'Silly Poopy, where are you?' It keeps them busy for at least half an hour at a time and they leave me alone. Also? It's pretty durable. I found it outside in my garden in the 20-degree winter weather. I guess my 8-year-old left it out there for a few days. It also gets thrown down the stairs and Silly Poopy just keeps on giggling and having fun." — Adele Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 7. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — a card game you can play together as a family on cold winter nights or even at the beach when the weather (eventually) warms up again. Hope your little ones are ready for endless giggles! You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "taco," "cat," "goat," "cheese," and "pizza," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add 'em to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins! Dolphin Hat Games is a small business. Get it from Amazon for $7.99 and check out the festive version " Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman ." 8. A kid-friendly bath bomb with a surprise squishy dinosaur inside that might just even help you get your tot into the tub without a fight. Love that for you both! Two Sisters is a small business. Promising review: "This was a fun stocking stuffer for my son! He is in love with dinosaurs so he wants more of them now. Turns the water colorful, adds bubbles, and leaves no mess when it’s time to drain (I’ve used some bath bombs that leave residue, glitter, etc and this one does not do that.)" — Lauren Gomez Get it from Amazon for $7.43+ (available in 10 themes). 9. Crayola Globbles , a fun lil' toy they can use to burn off some steam when they need a quick mental break from their homework. Don't worry, they won't leave residue on your walls. Promising review : " I waited over two months to write my review! My daughter is 4 and plays with these DAILY! YES they do attract dirt and hair HOWEVER they are so easy to rinse off, it's not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room which was pretty entertaining! None of these have busted or ripped and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more! " — Kindle Customer Get a pack of six from Amazon for $7.49 . 10. A Quick Push Game Console designed to help kids improve their reflexes, memory, and concentration skills — despite its teeny handheld size, there are four different ways to play with this lil' device! Promising review: " I have three boys and bought them this for Christmas! WOW they loved it and still a year later are playing it anywhere we go! Great for car rides, family get togethers, solo play and more! Would 100% recommend! Has many levels for many hours of entertainment and the quality is there!" — Tasha Hibdon (The Farmhouse Sparrow) Get it from Amazon for $9.45+ (available in six styles). 11. A teensy tiny eenie weenie version of Sorry! — the classic board game *you* likely played as a kid. Embrace the nostalgia and pop this cutie into your kiddo's stocking then volunteer to play with them while your partner makes breakfast on Christmas morning. Promising review: "Had so much fun playing this, but it’s worth it to mention that you have to play with a toothpick or something like that to be able to move the pieces around the board. SO fun though!!!" — Goodvibes Designs Get it from Amazon for $6.95 . 12. A yodeling pickle I can't even type about without giggling — I mean, it's a pickle that shouts "yodel-ey-eee-hooo!" It needs zero explanation as to why it's a perfect stocking stuffer — it just is. 10/10, no critiques. Promising reviews: "He's no average yodeler, he's 'the' yodeler, the teacher of all yodelers. He's the yodel master. And, he is my best friend. I'm beyond fortunate to have met him. I now share my home with him. You can only hope that your yodeling pickle is half as good as mine. And if not, I'm not sharing — he's mine, all mine. Hear that? So, how did my yodeling pickle and I meet? My sister gave him to me for my 23rd birthday. I was so excited, I started crying, but the streams flowing down my cheeks were tears of joy. You know what my pickle did for me next? You'll never believe it. He serenaded me with a yodel birthday song — Yodel-Aey-Eee-Ooooooo. The way those five syllables rolled off his tiny pickle tongue was pure bliss to my ears. It was divine. The voice of my yodeling pickle is sweet as honey. " — B & J "Bought it as a stocking stuffer for my teen. Got a lot of laughs." — Angela Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 13. A screaming goat figurine that'll elicit endless laughter each time they click it and it shouts "AHHHHH!" It also comes with a teeny tiny book any goat-lover will appreciate. Promising review: "This little piece of screaming plastic has created an excellent outlet for resolving frustrations in our home. Every time a conflict or struggle arises we push the little goat, get a gratifying screech, chuckle, and move on throughout our day. No regrets on purchasing this. When you get one, get four or five because you're going to want to share with family and friends." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $8.18 . 14. Silicone paw print joystick caps to provide your little gamer with a little extra support — these are so cute you might as well just add 'em into your cart right *~meow~*. Promising review: "SO ADORABLE. The texture feels really nice to game with (especially if you get sweaty hands like me). I'm a tactile person and they're very soothing to touch. They're easy to pop on and they don't slip and rotate like some others I have used. Great purchase, I can't use joy cons without them now." — Julie Get two pairs of paw prints from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 10 colors) and if paws aren't they're preference, they have SO many more styles to choose from! 15. A Blippi Tonie for the kiddo that already has (and loves) their Toniebox — chances are they'd squeal "B-L-I-P-P-I!" with delight the moment they pull this guy out of their stocking. And, yes, it does include a snippet of "The Excavator Song." If you don't already own a Toniebox, check it out on Amazon for $69.99 . My son has and adores his Blippi Tonie! I also snagged a Cinderella one for my daughter's stocking and an Elmo one for my son's. Promising review: "My daughter is obsessed with Blippi and this is her favorite tonie character. The songs are cute and fun. It’s actually Blippi's voice too." — Emilee K. Get it from Amazon for $17.98 and check out all the other tonies you can order here. 16. A book of 642 tiny things to draw , so they'll have some other ideas of fun things to doodle aside from squiggles, smiley faces, and hearts. Promising review: "I love the size of this book. It’s small and portable perfect for taking on trips or anywhere you might have some time to waste. There’s a variety or prompts to help pass the time when you’re out of doodle ideas." — jamie Get it from Amazon for $9.95 . 17. A classic Tamagotchi they've probably heard you reminiscing about since the beginning of time — now your own offspring can learn about the delight and stress of keeping a virtual pet alive. Promising review: "My 11-year-old daughter came to me one day and asked me for a Tamagotchi for her upcoming birthday. I thought, 'Wow that sounds SO familiar!!' Sure enough, it was the same thing from when we were in high school — the little gigapet that needs constant care and beeps constantly. LOL! It’s a nice blast from the past!" — Amy W.C. Get it from Amazon for $21.99 and check out a bunch of other styles here . 18. Custom crayons that spell out their name, a gift guaranteed to bring a smile to their face *especially* if their moniker is unique and typically never found on items in stores. Art2theextreme is a small business based in Indiana that sells customized rainbow crayons. My coworker Tasia Bass bought these for herself and loves them, "OMG, so I bought these for myself and I LOVE them. They are so cute and super reasonably priced. They come in this adorable box, in which the seller also stamps your name on it. The crayons are melted down and mixed randomly, so it does give this lovely rainbow effect when you do use them. Or you can be like me and keep them on your art desk as a form of decor. I think this is great for any artists or those who like unique gifts." Get them from Art2theextreme on Etsy for $14.95+ (available in 1–13 letters). 19. Scavenger hunt cards that'll keep even the busiest of kids entertained for a bit — it'll send them on a "secret mission" to find "treasure" around the house. (And keep them out of your hair!) Mollybee Kids is a small, family-owned small business based in Pennsylvania. Promising review: " A must-have. My 2-year-old son is obsessed. Always asks to play the 'find you' game LOL. Then we play it and every option on the game he actually thinks really hard then says 'come on mommy' and runs me through the house to find the object. Highly recommended from a mom of four." — Britney bansley Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 20. Disney hair bows the diva in your life who is forever channeling their inner-princess won't be able to resist — they're available in so many different themes you might just want to snag two different sets and let 'em have their pick. Luv Her is a small business! Promising review: "Purchased the princess bows to use the Ariel ( The Little Mermaid ) bow specifically to match to an Ariel dress for my 3-year-old's birthday. The colors matched perfectly, we got a lot of compliments, and the bow looked beautiful! All of the bows look great and the quality looks to be good overall. I would definitely recommend the set of Princess bows, especially for the price!" — Justlucky18 Get them from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 14 sets). 21. A pack of parachute toys they'll love tossing from the second floor and watching float down over and over without pestering you to help them untangle them — a win for you both! Promising review: " I bought these for my 4-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece for when they come to visit. Right out of the box, they were excited and loved tossing them up in the air and watching them fall. I was amazed as to how long it kept their interest and the different ways they played with them. They dropped them off the stair landing, off the couch, in the yard and held them behind them to expand as they ran. My niece liked 'dancing' with them and twirling it around. Good colors and very well made. Hours of fun and the best $7 I ever spent on a toy! " — hiker0811 Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in two colors). 22. A s'mores-themed ChapStick collection that'll keep their pout super soft and make them feel like an actual grown up who uses lipstick. Each set comes with three flavors: a Milk Chocolate, a Marshmallow, and a Graham Cracker flavor. Promising review: "My mom and I are ChapStick fans, so I bought us each a pack of these. The marshmallow is clear, the chocolate is brown, and the graham cracker is tan. The color isn’t too extreme, but it will leave a little bit of tint on your lips. The flavors are DELICIOUS. Graham cracker reminds me of Golden Grahams cereal and chocolate is just perfect. I love the marshmallow best because it tastes slightly toasted." — Elle Ardee Get it from Amazon for $4.97 . 23. A set of 500+ puffy stickers any crafty kiddo would squeal with delight about — fear not, they actually don't leave any residue and unstick very easily!!! Promising review: "Gave to my grandson when I babysit him. Got a sticker book to put them in. He loves them. Liked them so much bought another set for my granddaughter as one of her birthday presents." — J. Reulet Get them from Amazon for $6.99 . 24. A pack of silicone dino ice pop molds you can fill with juice, yogurt, or smoothies to make healthier versions of store-bought ones. Your kids will definitely agree they're *~dino-myte~*. Promising review: " Toddler snack must-have . I absolutely love these molds. The silicone is good quality because it peels off the pops easily and I use them quite often — they are pretty durable. Both my toddler and preschooler love them although the pop portion size is generous for my younger. The bone holders are hilarious and the yogurt we use looks exactly like a dino as expected after frozen. These work great and are really fun shapes so I highly recommend." — TXFan Get a pack of four from Amazon for $12.38+ (available in four styles). 25. Mickey Mouse bluetooth earbuds for your mini me who is constantly asking for their own pair of AirPods (but you and I both know that simply isn't necessary just yet). These are themed, have a charging case and a mic, and are the perfect starter set for your kiddo. Promising review: "Will be purchasing another as my pre-teen has taken over mine. Love the colors and shape!" — Kim Straub Get them from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five styles). 26. Kids' binoculars they'll love using to get *up close and personal* with nature without actually getting all that close — a must-have for littles who are curious but a bit skittish about bugs and whatnot. Promising review: "They are the perfect size for children. My kid absolutely loves them to be able to look at the birds and deer. Highly recommend purchasing if you have a child that loves the outdoors like mine!" — Ashley Get them from Amazon for $22.59 (available in two colors). 27. A tiny heart keychain made of Lego bricks you can (lovingly) break in half so each of you will always be able to tote around a piece of the other's heart 🥺. HeartsForFriendship is a small business based in Raleigh, North Carolina that sells fun matching jewelry that you can share with your loved ones. Promising review: "I am so excited for this keychain! I got it for my boyfriend and I as a gift for Valentine’s Day coming up in a few months. We both like LEGOs so I thought this was so cute." — morgs1345 Get it from HeartsForFriendship on Etsy for $9.87 + (available in 14 colors). 28. A set of Bluey toy figures (including one themed around the beloved episode "The Sign") so kids can live out their favorite moments of the show right from their own play room. Promising review: "POV: It’s 2022 — Bluey has taken the world by storm. Moms and children alike swear by Bluey, abide by Bluey, worship Bluey. It’s your child’s birthday in two business days. You buy them these figurines. The child is satisfied- finally a physical component to their idol worship. All is well." — Orcheez Get it from Amazon for $14.88+ (available in seven sets). 29. An Uno Minecraft card game because it's the *one* thing that'll get your kids excited about game night and taking a break from their screens. Promising review: "My sons (7 and 4) love Minecraft ! I purchased this for my 7-year-old as a birthday present and we play almost every day. So easy to play that my 4-year-old can play too and doesn’t need to ‘be on a team.’ Hours of fun for such a simple game." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $8.90 . 30. A scratch paper art set that'll take you right back to your elementary school days but also provide a fun way to keep your kiddos entertained. Promising review: "Ahhh I love these so much, takes doodling to a whole new level! It's an anxiety relief like you wouldn't believe. Plus my kids also get a kick out of them. These are so worth it and I'm going to be keeping these stocked up!" — Katie Toomey Get it from Amazon for $6.99 . 31. A handmade stuffed animal with precious fairy-tale vibes unlike any other they own — each animal has a full backstory and an array of clothing to accessorize both the child and the doll with. I'm actually obsessed with these dolls. My son has Owen the Fox and he looks so darn cute in his room. You can tell how carefully crafted each doll is and how much thought went into developing them into a full fledged character. Each item is handmade of organic materials — amazing. Hazel Village is a small business based in Brooklyn, New York. Order by Dec. 14 to ensure it arrives by Christmas. Get an animal plush from Hazel Village for $48 (available in 21 styles) and check out the doll clothing options here . 32. A portable karaoke microphone that'll transform any living room into a party from the moment you and your kiddo connect it to the app of your choosing. Ahem, that's just me clearing my throat to treat you all to my rendition of Aladdin 's "A Whole New World." Promising review: "We need something to let the kids sing without having to turn on the whole karaoke system. This works like a charm. The Bluetooth connection helps as well. You can just turn on YouTube and look for any song and they probably have a karaoke version or a sing-along they can sing to. The range is also great. We were outside and the volume can be heard nicely. " — Phong Bui Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 11 colors). 33. Inexpensive stud earrings shaped like Minnie Mouse you can snag in the birth stone of every little Disney fan in your life — they'll love having a sparkly pair of earrings of their own. Promising review: "These earrings are just the right amount of sparkle. And look just like the picture of the advertisement. I like that they don’t stick out too much but you can tell you’re wearing them. The gift box comes with a little pouch. Which makes them feel that much more special. They are a little bit bigger than average studs. But I like that. Definitely recommend!" — M. Emery Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 15 styles). 34. A fan favorite reversible octopus that'll become your child's favorite companion while also encouraging them to be open about how they're feeling at any given time. Fingers crossed they're smiling when you present them what you made for dinner tonight... TeeTurtle is a small business! Reviewers noted that it's a great item for anyone who is nonverbal. Promising review: "This was a gift for my sister, and she loves it! The little guy was soft and squishy, but also felt durable as well. I’ve had many plushes myself, so I know good stitching/fabric when I feel it. For the price point of this guy, you’re getting a good product that will make whoever gets these happy for a long time. An excellent reversible friend! " — Emily Mitchell Get it from Amazon for $13.29+ (available in 45 styles). 35. A pack of oversized sidewalk chalk they'll be *so* excited over they might just forget to pester you about extra screen time — encourage them to create all kinds of art in your driveway or leave funny messages for passersby. Urban Infant is a Chicago-based small business run by a brother/sister duo making unique and useful parenting products. Promising review: "Our 1-year-old loves these. It was his first time using chalk and he had no trouble with them. They are pretty thick; doesn't matter how he holds them, there will be contact with the surface and there will be color!" — JW Get it from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in glitter chalk). 36. A box of 72 mini dinosaur toys kiddos will love traipsing throughout dirt, sand, the bath tub, etc. With so many in the set you won't have to stress if one or two get lost during all of your little one's adventures. Also great as cake toppers and party bag favors! Promising review: "Hi, we were quite amazed at the variety of dinosaurs included in our pack. We expected the usual three but got quite a variety of dinosaurs and we got three or more of each. The colors were fantastic. Bright vivid blues and greens and purples. The size was relatively small which worked well as my daughter used them as homemade Valentines for her friends. Overall, we were very happy with our purchase." — H. Bowen Get it from Amazon for $10.99 . 37. A snowman decorating kit complete with everything you and your family could possibly need to bring Frosty to life in your front yard. Promising review: "I just ordered a second one because I purchased the first as a gift, and it was so sweet I wanted one as well! Now I am looking forward to the next good snowfall. I plan to purchase a bunch before next Christmas so I can give them to the families I see for the holidays that have kids. I like how the kit comes with everything you need, and the sticks that you push into the snowman are plenty long so they'll stay put ." — Lisa Get it from Amazon for $14.99 . 38. A pack of snowball-making molds , so you and your family can square off against your neighbors in the most epic snow battle your block has ever seen. Promising review: " Great product. Easy to use even for my 3- and 4-year-olds. Makes a perfect snowball! Highly recommend." — sarah Get a set of four from Amazon for $11.96 . 39. A Disney-inspired Simple Modern water bottle for the little one who always wants to drink out of Mom or Dad's cup. Getting them their own "emotional support water bottle" might just be exactly what you both need. Promising review: "Perfect size, super cute designs, and it saved us money filling them up at Disneyland. My 3-year-old was so happy we all had one. My husband and I got the 18-oz ones so they weren't too big in our backpack. My 1-year-old can even drink from it with no issues." — Kelsie Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and 42 styles). 40. Handmade gingerbread cookie–inspired chalk that'll go beautifully with the chalkboard/easel Santa is bringing them. Pop a set of these into their stocking and let 'em at it! Twee is a woman-owned small business! They also have a ton of other fun themes to check out. Get it from Twee for $18 . 41. And personalized kids sunglasses featuring their name and favorite Disney character — they'll look cooler than ever the next time they strut into Magic Kingdom wearing these bad boys. Hei Unlimited is a small business that makes custom accessories for kids. Promising review: "The glasses are fantastic! Super cute and well made! My 4yo absolutely loves them! Plus, I needed them in a very short time and they went above and beyond to make it happen!" — Magdalena Shipping info: Orders typically ship in 2–15 days. Get them from Hei Unlimited on Etsy for $15+ (available in 16 colors and seven Disney character icons)/. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Jasper Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1b/2a ETESIAN Clinical Study of Briquilimab in AsthmaDENVER -- So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 6, 2024-- Certain BlackRock closed-end funds (the “Funds”) announced distributions today as detailed below. Declaration- 12/6/2024 Ex-Date- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/31/2024 National Funds Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution * BYM $0.055500 - * BTA $0.049500 - .* MUA $0.055500 - * MUI $0.055000 - * BFK $0.050000 - * BKN $0.057000 - * BLE $0.054000 - BTT $0.046400 - * MHD $0.059500 - * MQT $0.051000 - .* MQY $0.058000 - * MUE $0.051000 - * MVT $0.054000 - .* MYD $0.054500 - * MYI $0.055500 - * MVF $0.036000 - BMN $0.093750 - State-Specific Funds Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution * MUC $0.053500 - * BFZ $0.059000 - .* MIY $0.054500 - * MUJ $0.054000 - * MHN $0.051500 - * MYN $0.051200 - * BNY $0.051000 - * MPA $0.066000 - * BHV $0.051500 - Declaration- 12/6/2024 Ex-Date- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/23/2024 Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution * BBN $0.092900 - Declaration- 12/6/2024 Ex-Date- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/23/2024 Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution * BGT $0.120280 - * BHK $0.074600 - * BIT $0.123700 - * BKT $0.088200 - * BLW $0.113200 - * BTZ $0.083900 - * DSU $0.098730 - .* EGF $0.041000 - * FRA $0.123840 - * HYT $0.077900 - Declaration- 12/6/2024 Ex-Date- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/23/2024 Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution BMEZ $0.178090 0.001190 BSTZ $0.218000 0.002510 * BIGZ $0.086760 0.000430 Declaration- 12/6/2024 Ex-Date- 12/16/2024 Record- 12/16/2024 Payable- 12/23/2024 Fund Ticker Distribution Change From Prior Distribution BCAT $0.289190 0.000650 * ECAT $0.306840 0.001810 * In order to comply with the requirements of Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), each of the Funds noted above posted to the DTC bulletin board and sent to its shareholders of record as of the applicable record date a Section 19 notice with the previous distribution payment. The Section 19 notice was provided for informational purposes only and not for tax reporting purposes. This information can be found in the “Closed-End Funds” section of . As applicable, the final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions in 2024 will be made after the end of the year. BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust (NYSE: BCAT), BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (NYSE: ECAT), BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (NYSE: BSTZ), BlackRock Health Sciences Term Trust (NYSE: BMEZ) and BlackRock Innovation and Growth Term Trust (NYSE: BIGZ) have adopted a managed distribution plan (a “Plan”) to support a level monthly distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital, or in the case of BMEZ, BSTZ, BIGZ, ECAT and BCAT a monthly distribution based on an annual rate of 12% (for BMEZ, BSTZ and BIGZ) and 20% (for ECAT and BCAT) of the Fund’s 12-month rolling average daily net asset value calculated 5 business days prior to declaration date of each distribution. The December 2024 distribution for each of BMEZ, BSTZ, BIGZ, ECAT and BCAT was calculated based on the average net asset value from 11/28/2023 to 11/27/2024. Below are the 12-month rolling average daily net asset values used to calculate BMEZ, BSTZ, BIGZ, ECAT and BCAT’s December distributions: BMEZ: $17.808095 BSTZ: $21.799921 BIGZ: $8.675040 ECAT: $18.410000 BCAT: $17.351032 Under its Plan, each Fund will distribute all available investment income to its shareholders, consistent with its investment objectives and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If sufficient income (inclusive of net investment income and short-term capital gains) is not available on a monthly basis, a Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its shareholders in order to maintain a level distribution. Each Fund’s estimated sources of the distributions paid as of November 29, 2024 and for its current fiscal year are as follows: Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital BMEZ 1 $0.176900 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.176900 (100%) BSTZ 1 $0.215490 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.215490 (100%) BIGZ 1 $0.086330 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.086330 (100%) BCAT 1 $0.288540 $0.032627 (11%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.255913 (89%) ECAT 1 $0.305030 $0.015937 (5%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.289093 (95%) Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital BMEZ 1 $1.512960 $0.040694 (3%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $1.472266 (97%) BSTZ 1 $1.801010 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.619326 (34%) $1.181684 (66%) BIGZ 1 $0.747140 $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.747140 (100%) BCAT 1 $2.359050 $0.244754 (10%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $2.114296 (90%) ECAT 1 $2.554050 $0.163438 (6%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $2.390612 (94%) 1 The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net-realized capital gains in the current fiscal year; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment is paid back to the shareholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will reduce the Fund’s net asset value per share. Fund Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on 10/31/2024 Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of 10/31/2024 Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through 10/31/2024 Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of 10/31/2024 BMEZ* 5.15% 12.30% 4.83% 7.74% BSTZ 11.57% 11.80% 11.18% 7.24% BIGZ* (14.24%) 12.60% (0.66%) 8.04% BCAT* 4.90% 20.66% 10.23% 12.35% ECAT* 6.70% 20.43% 12.89% 12.55% * Portfolio launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented for this Fund reflects data from inception to 10/31/2024. BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. (NYSE: EGF), BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE: DSU), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FRA), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (NYSE: BGT), BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (NYSE: HYT), BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (NYSE: BTZ), BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (NYSE: BLW), BlackRock Core Bond Trust (NYSE: BHK), BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (NYSE: BIT), BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BKT) and BlackRock Taxable Municipal Bond Trust (NYSE: BBN) have adopted a Plan to support a level monthly distribution of income, capital gains and/or return of capital. Under its Plan, each Fund will distribute all available net income to its shareholders, consistent with its investment objectives and as required by the Code. If sufficient income (inclusive of net investment income and short-term capital gains) is not available on a monthly basis, a Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its stockholders in order to maintain a level distribution. Each of the above-listed Funds is currently not relying on any exemptive relief from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Each Fund expects that distributions under the Plan will exceed current income and capital gains and therefore will likely include a return of capital. Each Fund may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the 1940 Act. Each Fund’s estimated sources of the distributions paid as of November 29, 2024 and for its current fiscal year are as follows: Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital EGF 2 $0.041000 $0.030660 (75%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.010340 (25%) BKT 2 $0.088200 $0.040551 (46%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.047649 (54%) DSU 2 $0.098730 $0.077696 (79%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.021034 (21%) FRA 2 $0.123840 $0.096014 (78%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.027826 (22%) BBN 2 $0.092900 $0.084923 (91%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.007977 (9%) BGT 2 $0.120280 $0.091087 (76%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.029193 (24%) HYT 2 $0.077900 $0.065724 (84%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.012176 (16%) BTZ 2 $0.083900 $0.060993 (73%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.022907 (27%) BLW 2 $0.113200 $0.099226 (88%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.013974 (12%) BHK 2 $0.074600 $0.048859 (65%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.025741 (35%) BIT 2 $0.123700 $0.083688 (68%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.040012 (32%) Fund Distribution Net Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital EGF 2 $0.451000 $0.331478 (73%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.119522 (27%) BKT 2 $0.970200 $0.375393 (39%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.594807 (61%) DSU 2 $1.086030 $0.814092 (75%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.271938 (25%) FRA 2 $1.362240 $1.085287 (80%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.276953 (20%) BBN 2 $1.021900 $0.834551 (82%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.187349 (18%) BGT 2 $1.323080 $0.982460 (74%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.340620 (26%) HYT 2 $0.856900 $0.660644 (77%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.196256 (23%) BTZ 2 $0.922900 $0.620538 (67%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.302362 (33%) BLW 2 $1.213400 $1.026867 (85%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.186533 (15%) BHK 2 $0.820600 $0.519873 (63%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.300727 (37%) BIT 2 $1.360700 $0.846067 (62%) $0 (0%) $0 (0%) $0.514633 (38%) 2 The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net-realized capital gains in the current fiscal year; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the shareholder’s investment is paid back to the shareholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income’. When distributions exceed total return performance, the difference will reduce the Fund’s net asset value per share. Fund Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on 10/31/2024 Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of 10/31/2024 Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through 10/31/2024 Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as 10/31/2024 EGF (1.59%) 4.90% 1.39% 4.08% BKT (1.52%) 8.78% 1.76% 7.32% DSU 6.42% 11.08% 7.55% 9.24% FRA 6.63% 11.46% 7.56% 9.55% BBN (0.57%) 6.35% 2.66% 5.29% BGT 6.71% 11.42% 7.65% 9.52% HYT 5.53% 9.61% 8.34% 8.01% BTZ 2.98% 8.81% 6.47% 7.34% BLW 4.81% 9.62% 8.22% 7.79% BHK (0.49%) 8.45% 2.97% 7.04% BIT 5.58% 10.16% 7.65% 8.47% Each Plan will be subject to ongoing review by the Board to determine whether the Plan should be continued, modified or terminated. The Board may amend the terms of a Plan or suspend or terminate a Plan at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s shareholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders. The amendment or termination of a Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund's shares. BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Funds. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this release. This press release, and other statements that BlackRock or a Fund may make, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to a Fund’s or BlackRock’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. BlackRock cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and BlackRock assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Funds, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Funds or in a Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of a Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to a Fund or BlackRock, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities, health epidemics and/or pandemics and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or BlackRock; (9) BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of BlackRock electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Funds with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) are accessible on the SEC's website at and on BlackRock’s website at , and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Funds. The information contained on BlackRock’s website is not a part of this press release. View source version on : 1-800-882-0052 KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ASSET MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: BlackRock Closed-End Funds Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/06/2024 04:56 PM/DISC: 12/06/2024 04:56 PMMinisters inspect Souq Al-Mubarakiya to combat fraudLYNN — Healing Abuse, Working for Change (HAWC) Executive Director Sara Stanley and Board Member Paul Kurker were recognized by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce with the Distinguished Leaders Award. The Distinguished Leaders Award is presented annually to individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact within their company, industry, and community. Stanley, Kurker, and Tom Sands of Beth Israel Lahey Health received the award at the Chamber’s 105th Annual Dinner Meeting. HAWC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse and promoting social change. It has community-based offices in Lynn and Salem and also supports Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Magnolia, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Rowley, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, and Wenham. Stanley became the executive director of HAWC in 2018 and also serves on the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women, on the Board of Directors for Jane Doe Inc., and on the Thrive Advisory Council for the North Shore Chamber. She was also named one of the inaugural recipients of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Diamond Awards in 2021, given to extraordinary businesswomen who make a positive impact on their community. “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by my colleagues ... as someone who is committed to the North Shore and committed to seeing that we can all thrive,” Stanley said. Stanley emphasized the importance of HAWC’s mission, and expressed gratitude to the North Shore Chamber of Commerce for supporting their efforts. “In reality, most people know someone who has experienced domestic abuse,” Stanley said. “The fact that we have leaders in our community that are willing to donate their time, energy, and talent to supporting survivors and hopefully preventing abuse in the future is really important.” Kurker is the senior vice president at Eastern Bank and has been a community advocate for more than 25 years. He has served on HAWC’s Executive Committee since 2015, holding the position of Treasurer. “It was a great honor to be recognized as a North Shore Distinguished Leader, especially alongside Sara Stanley and Tom Sands,” Kurker said. “I am fortunate to work at Eastern Bank who not only allows volunteerism, but encourages [it as one of its] pillars of existence.” “We are immensely proud of Sara and Paul, and grateful for their unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership in advancing HAWC’s mission. Under their leadership HAWC has strengthened the operation and services available to the community. With a newly developed strategic plan in place that will have a profound impact, their awards are a well-deserved reflection of their tireless work and compassion,” HAWC Board of Directors President Elisa Castillo said. “As we continue our mission to support survivors and challenge patterns of oppression and violence, we are reminded of how crucial strong leadership and community collaboration are to effecting meaningful change,” HAWC stated in a press release. For more information on HAWC’s programs and initiatives, visit hawcdv.org. HAWC’s 24-hour hotline phone number is 800-547-1649.
