Paul Menzel, CLFP, Now Retired
But Still Wants to Keep Active

Financial Pacific has disabled Paul’s email, as he is no longer with the company or bank. He has asked Leasing News to publish his personal email in order that his industry colleagues know how to reach him. His email is: Pablosba@msn.com.

We are trying to encourage him to stay somewhat active, perhaps join the Leasing News Advisory Board.

    - Editor

 
Reference the July 18, 2000 Leasing News story about “What Capital Stream (now known as LTI Technology Solutions) was touted by Bob Fisher, CLFP:  Paul noted: “What Capital Stream (now LTI Technology Solutions) offered twenty years ago. Paul noted: “Even before that, we had started to implement the software Sierra Cities had acquired from an Orange County company which ultimately was acquired by American Express. That original software company went out of business.  Innovation can be a slow and torturous process."

Paul saw was Bob Fisher, CLFP, was touting in a July 18, 2000 Leasing News story about "Embracing Fintech with Capital Stream."  Fisher stated in the press release:

-- Credit approval time has decreased from four hours to one
-- Transactions submitted per broker have increased by 25 percent
-- Deal processing costs have declined by 10 percent
-- Approval/submission ratios have improved by as much as 20 percent

The point was that the financial technology provided documents sent online, funding by fax, and the Internet, and in 2003, DocuSign came about.

Borrowing on credit cards, now called Merchant Cash Advance, was in place earlier. It started around the time plastic cards being sent by mail with "You are approved for $50,000" by David Murray, one of the founders of Direct Capital (the sales practice is still going strong today.)

Leasing News also wrote about the "new" credit card borrowing in 1995, now called Merchant Cash Advance, in 2000 lending to small businesses, many one person shops, who could not get bank lines or had personal ability to borrow money for parts, for equipment, let alone working capital. They were relying on getting advances from their credit card sale purchases. They were originally small dollar amounts, five to ten thousand dollars. It usually was in small communities, not large cities, and companies like eBay and PayPal, both in San Jose, California, among others, were growing in use. They brought new business ideas into the market place via the internet.

 

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Excellent Short Video: Key SVP Shawn Arnone
shares tips for successful vendor finance relationships (2:07)

 Sent from Key Bank Finance.  Suggest it should be saved not only by those in sales, but in the industry; and not thrown away, but replayed from time to time. Shawn Arnone sums up how to succeed in the banking and finance industry.
- Editor

 

 

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How to Reach Customers During a Pandemic Shutdown

FinTech #102 by Alex Vasilakos

Businesses such as banks and marketing agencies, that have a virtual component, can continue to serve their customers with few interruptions from the pandemic. For some companies, this is a simple exercise of investing more money into their digital marketing campaigns. Companies that are new to online marketing may need a little more help to get started.

Regardless of where a business falls on this spectrum, everyone has room to learn and grow in this new commercial environment. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Understanding the Process
Many businesses stumble into online marketing, believing they can master it with one easy overnight campaign. These instances do happen, but long-term success requires proper planning. Use the steps below to get started.

Step One: Start with the Customer
How tech-savvy is your customer base? Failure to put the customer first could lead to creating brilliant online solutions but for the wrong target market. Companies that serve an older age group may wish to keep any virtual solutions as simple as possible. Providing online tutorials to help people adjust to a new way of doing business with your company can also do wonders.

Once you’ve decided how technical you can get with your online solutions, consider the problem more closely. Consumer complaints may differ per business, even within the same industry. Look at data you’ve collected regarding your customer base over the years. Check emails. Talk to your customer service representatives. Post an online survey. Find out what people need help with and then craft solutions from there.

Step Two: Collect Industry Data
After combing through your internal data, it’s time to take a broader approach. How has consumer behavior changed in the past few weeks and what future trends do these changes indicate? What are major news reports saying? What are the marketing experts discussing online? Have some keywords become more popular than others? What are your competitors doing to adjust to the changes?

You can then use this data to construct your ongoing marketing strategy. Top search terms and keywords can tell you what to include in your SEO articles and what solutions the market needs. For instance, “equipment financing” is one search term that has increased in popularity in the past few weeks. In early March, the search term hit a year-high which was 108% higher than it was April 7, 2019.

Step 3: Choose the Right Online Channels
Companies that are new to online marketing are not always as discriminating as they need to be when choosing social media channels. Not all platforms are suitable for all types of businesses. What kind of product do you produce or service do you deliver? How  can you best conceptualize it? Do people understand it best in words, photos, infographics or videos? Consider this carefully when making a choice.

Next,  research each platform. Find out what demographics gravitate more to what online platforms and choose the ones that best intersect with your own target market. Note that this goes beyond social media. Email marketing, paid search and SEO are just some of the available options worth analyzing.

Step 4: Revise Your Marketing Campaign
Once you have your channels selected and know where your target base hangs out, create a compelling campaign to reach them without imposing on their peace of mind. The factors that previously attracted customers may not be the same ones that attract them in the time of a crisis. Here are some of the features customers now value in evaluating companies they are considering:

1. Fighting the pandemic through developing technology or equipment needed by health care personnel
2. Donating money to the cause
3. Allowing employees to work 100% from home
4. Providing paid sick leave to workers affected by the virus
5. Providing ongoing assistance to workers even if the business is shut down
6. Providing solutions for customers to keep doing business online

Focus on building a community and offering support. People are paying attention and many have more time than usual on their hands to scrutinize each potential relationship.

Step 5: Create an Online Experience
Gyms represent one business type that is greatly affected by the loss of physical customers during a pandemic. Yet, some gyms have found ways to move the experience online. Even though Planet Fitness paused memberships after closing its doors nationwide, it created online workouts and playlists to continue to engage its members for free. Similarly, banks now encourage customers to do most or all their banking online.

If Amazon’s overwhelming success during the pandemic is a benchmark, e-commerce is also still a viable option. Companies with the money to invest should consider developing easy ways to order food online or purchase products. This can range from encouraging people to call or text to having a fully developed online store. This is a great way to continue to generate revenue during the crisis.

Evaluating Online Tools
The good news is that the same old digital advertising tools are as effective as ever, if not more. Quarantined at home, people are spending more screen time online, looking for ways to track the crisis and entertain themselves. Use online tools to entertain and inform and you will capture your own niche of this growing audience.

Social Media
The best way to build an online community is by using social media. The keyword here is “social.” Remember that communication on social media platforms is not like others. Unlike TV ads and billboard signs, this is a two-way street. Focus on not just posting updates and creating and joining conversations.

During a pandemic, emotions run high, so prepare for the occasional blowback regardless of what you post. Some companies decide to play it safe and subsequently blend into the marketing noise. Others find a message they can stand behind and keep pushing forward. What will yours be?

Email Marketing
From blogs to banks, when you visit websites, many ask if you would like to sign up for newsletters to get updates about COVID-19. Some offer general updates while others promise to inform customers on any updates that change the way they do business. You can also use this to your advantage. Everyone wants the latest news during a crisis.

Finally, email marketing is a great way to replace any physical notices your company used to send out. Note that many people are trying to limit physical mail and packages to their homes. This is in light of actions from several members of the public who have allegedly spit on packages or have not observed proper hygiene during deliveries.

Paid Online Advertising
There are many avenues to consider when looking for paid advertising online. One of the most effective is search engine marketing. This involves running ads on Google, Bing and Yahoo, just to name a few. The most popular ad choice is, of course, Google Adwords. This stems from the fact that Google is the most commonly used search engine, accounting for more than 87% of the global market.

Some social media platforms also allow paid advertising. The most popular options include Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Even Quora and Twitter also have advertising platforms that companies can take advantage of. For small and micro businesses operating on tiny budgets, social media marketing is often more cost-effective than search engine marketing.

Search Engine Optimization
Instead of paying for search ranking and clicks, many companies prefer to invest heavily in attracting organic traffic. In marketing, this is considered the gift that keeps on giving. It requires a lot of data to get started, but once marketers have the right tools to work with, it’s just a matter of executing a strategy and tweaking that over time.

At the core of SEO is content creation in all its forms. Written content contributes the most value to SEO because it’s easier to incorporate keywords. However, it’s also possible to do SEO when optimizing videos for YouTube, sharing tweets or choosing copy for a Facebook page. Note that social media content does often show in search results, especially from Quora.

Marketers and economists describe this pandemic as a crisis that might only happen once in a hundred years but reports are coming out of Hong Kong that a second wave might be on the way. This heightens the reason for businesses to find long-term solutions that can continue to benefit themselves and their customers for years to come.

Alex Vasilakos
Director of Marketing
The Finance Marketing Group
Alex@financemarketing.com 
Office: 518-591-4645x102 / Fax: 518-677-1071
90 State Street, Suite 1500, Albany, NY 12207
He entered advertising and marketing in 2003, right when the industry landscape shifted from traditional print to digital media. In that time, Alex has worked with numerous large accounts in both healthcare and financial services, and has helped small and medium-sized businesses grow and flourish in their respective digital markets. Alex has won countless awards for creative direction and strategy, and is certified by Google Partners in both AdWords and Analytics. Currently, Alex works exclusively with financial services companies, but his depth of knowledge and experience can help design and implement long-reaching strategies for businesses across all industries.

Previous Financial Technology Articles
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories

 

 

The United States has been heavily criticized for its slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the CDC's fumbled development of testing kits. That delay meant that the U.S. had conducted just 125 tests per million of its inhabitants by mid-March compared to 5,567 tests per million people in South Korea and 2,514 per million in Italy.

The U.S. has now finally ratcheted up testing and the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 stood at 337,646 as of April 06, 2020 at 3am EST according to the Johns Hopkins University. Despite the improvement, the U.S. still lags behind other countries in testing and according to the latest data published by Worldometers, it had conducted 5,355 tests per million inhabitants by April 06.

That is still behind a long list of countries including Canada with 8,767 tests per million of the population and Germany with 10,962 tests per million inhabitants.

By Niall McCarthy, Statista

https://www.statista.com/chart/21108/covid-19-tests-performed-per-million-of-the-population/

 

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#### Press Release #############################

Agencies issue revised interagency statement
on loan modifications by financial institutions
working with customers affected by the coronavirus

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
National Credit Union Administration
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The federal financial institution regulatory agencies, in consultation with state financial regulators, issued a revised interagency statement encouraging financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by COVID-19 and providing additional information regarding loan modifications. The revised statement also provides the agencies' views on consumer protection considerations.

The revised statement clarifies the interaction between the interagency statement issued on March 22, 2020, and the temporary relief provided by Section 4013 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020. Section 4013 allows financial institutions to suspend the requirements to classify certain loan modifications as troubled debt restructurings (TDRs). The revised statement also provides supervisory interpretations on past due and nonaccrual regulatory reporting of loan modification programs and regulatory capital.

The agencies encourage financial institutions to work with borrowers and will not criticize institutions for doing so in a safe and sound manner. The agencies view prudent loan modification programs offered to financial institution customers affected by COVID-19 as positive and proactive actions that can manage or mitigate adverse impacts on borrowers, and lead to improved loan performance and reduced credit risk.

The agencies' examiners will exercise judgment in reviewing loan modifications, including TDRs, and will not automatically adversely risk-rate credits that are affected by COVID-19, including those considered TDRs. Regardless of whether modifications are considered TDRs or are adversely classified, agency examiners will not criticize prudent efforts to modify terms on existing loans for affected customers.

Full Statement (5 pages)
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/files/bcreg20200407a1.pdf

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ELFA Launches Webinar Series on Equipment Finance
in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Free and Open to All

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association today announced a series of free webinars to provide critical information to equipment finance professionals during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The webinars will engage experts on a series of hot topics—from the U.S. economic outlook to cybersecurity—and allow attendees to ask questions during interactive Q&A sessions.

ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta, said, “The equipment finance industry is an essential component of the U.S. economy, and ELFA is committed to providing information to help our members—and their customers—during this challenging time.

“Our new webinar series is designed to help industry executives navigate the current market and regulatory landscape and anticipate the changing environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

ELFA announced the following webinars to be held in April 2020:

Navigating Machine & Equipment Valuation COVID-19 Concerns
Thursday, April 9, 1-3pm ET
This webinar, co-sponsored by ELFA, the American Society of Appraisers and other organizations, will provide information on how to value assets during a crisis, the latest updates on state and local stay-in-place and business operations orders, regulatory revisions and appraisal guidelines. 
Register: www.elfaonline.org/events/2020/WW040920

Coronavirus and the U.S. Economy: Implications for the Equipment Finance Industry
Wednesday, April 15, 1-2pm ET
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation will release the Q2 Equipment Leasing and Finance U.S. Economic Outlook with longtime partner Keybridge LLC on April 15. The Foundation and ELFA have invited Keybridge Founder and President Dr. Robert Wescott and Vice President Jeff Jensen to discuss the state of the economy and the equipment finance industry in the face of the global pandemic. They will offer their insights on the economic, financial and political effects of the pandemic over the next quarter as well as through the remainder of the year and will answer attendee questions in a live Q&A session.
Register: www.elfaonline.org/events/2020/WW041520

Cybersecurity and Fraud in the COVID-19 Environment
Wednesday, April 29, 1-2pm ET
Concerns about protecting data and avoiding fraud are higher than ever in the current environment. This webinar will highlight preventive measures industry professionals can take to combat fraud and red flags to watch for. Speakers will include: Andrew Cotter, EVP, Chief Information Officer, Somerset Capital Group, Ltd.; Dominic Liberatore, Deputy General Counsel, DLL; and Tom Ware, President, Tom Ware Advisory Services, LLC
Register: www.elfaonline.org/events/2020/WW042920

More Information
ELFA will announce additional webinars as they are scheduled in the coming weeks at www.elfaonline.org/events. For questions regarding any of these events, please email meetings@elfaonline.org.

About ELFA
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the nearly $1 trillion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its 575 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers. For more information, please visit www.elfaonline.org.

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Easter Edition
By Fernando F. Croce

Though Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving all boast a long list of holiday-themed movies, Easter-related movies are rarer but no less inspiring. With Easter Sunday right around the corner, check out these classic holiday choices.

Barabbas (Richard Fleischer, 1961): Among the most underrated Biblical spectaculars, this vivid epic from director Richard Fleischer (“Fantastic Voyage”) examines the life of brutish thief Barabbas, who was pardoned during the crucifixion of Christ. Superbly played by Anthony Quinn, Barabbas is shown as a simple man utterly unconscious of his role in extraordinary times, finding himself condemned to hellish punishment in the sulfur mines after returning to his life of crime. His awareness gradually grows as he befriends Sahak (Vittorio Gassman), a Christian prisoner with whom he flees to Rome. Overseen by the sadistic gladiator Torvald (Jack Palance), however, his path of illumination is plagued by brutality. Bringing intelligence and intensity to an often stodgy subgenre, the picture shines a spotlight on one of the Bible’s fascinating peripheral characters.

Cool Hand Luke (Stuart Rosenberg, 1967): Paul Newman gives one of his most indelible performances in this powerful, entertaining drama set in a Florida penal farm. Newman plays Luke Jackson, a small-time criminal who’s sentenced to two years of hard labor. Working under pulverizing heat, clashing with the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) and brawling with a fellow prisoner (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner George Kennedy), Luke refuses to let his will be broken, becoming a sort of hero among the other inmates. While Stuart Rosenberg’s film at first doesn’t seem to have much to do with Easter, the protagonist’s inner strength gradually comes to carry spiritual intimations. And of course there’s the famous scene where Luke takes on the challenge of eating countless hard-boiled eggs, a symbol of rebirth.

Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977): Woody Allen scored one of his most beloved hits with this irresistible blend of romance and neuroticism. Charting the ups and downs of a most mismatched couple, the film stars Allen himself as Alvy Singer, an intellectual New Yorker with a faltering career as a comic, who looks back at his relationship with Annie Hall (Diane Keaton, in an Oscar-winning performance). An aspiring singer from the Midwest, Annie accompanies Alvy in a series of misadventures—but can the two of them remain together despite their differences? Employing a stream of consciousness comic style that includes asides to the audience, fantasy sequences, animation, and an unforgettable Easter family dinner, Allen serves up a hilarious but also moving meditation on the winding road of love.

The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin Scorsese, 1988): Martin Scorsese’s characters constantly deal with turbulent spiritual struggles, so it was only a matter of time before the Oscar-winning director made a film dealing directly with Christ. When it was first released, this portrayal of the life of Jesus (sensitively played by Willem Dafoe) stirred tremendous controversy, condemned by religious figures before it even opened. Seen today, however, the most startling thing about it is how tender and lyrical it is in its view of a man torn between his holy and human impulses. Following Jesus and his relationships with Judas (Harvey Keitel) and Mary Magdalene (Barbara Hershey), Scorsese’s film is at once remarkably visceral and achingly spiritual, and a far preferable modern take than Mel Gibson’s blood-soaked 2004 epic.

Labrador Retriever
Jersey City, New Jersey  Adopt a Dog

Jimmy Hendricks

Male
Large for a 9 month old Puppy
Golden White Cream
Coat Length: Short
Health Vaccinations up to Date
Prefers a home without cats

Meet Jimmy Hendricks

"Hiya!

"I am Jimmy Hendricks I am 82lb 9 month old (yea unbelievable right?)

"I am looking for UNDERSTANDING adopter, I am a big boy who thinks he is the size of a kitten. I am a puppy I have puppy tendencies. I require someone with patience and who can deal with my large puppy ways. if you think you're up to the challenge follow the instructions below."

To adopt or to receive more information, please fill out an application on our website at www.libertyhumane.org/dogs. Please do NOT simply hit the Ask About button.

Once you have filled out our application, we will be happy to contact you.

Liberty Humane Society
235 Jersey City Blvd
Exit 14C off the NJ Turnpike
Jersey City, NJ 07305
lhs@libertyhumane.org

Ask about Jimmy Hendricks
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/jimmy-hendricks-47757250/nj/jersey-city/liberty-humane-society-nj261/

Puppy: $225
Application (bottom of page)
https://www.libertyhumane.org/dogs

PUBLIC/ADOPTION HOURS
Monday - Closed
Tuesday through Friday - 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday - 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

 

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Portfolio Management and Fraud
Detection/Prevention in the Midst of COVID-19

When: April 21 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET

Where: Online, Zoom dial-in instructions will be emailed 1 day in advance

ABL lenders have traditionally relied on certain standard practices to gauge performance of the pledged collateral and to help identify aberrant behavior which may indicate fraud. Many of those practices may be impossible to accomplish today or may provide misleading or inconclusive results. We all want to work with our borrowers at this time but still remain vigilant for real problems or fraud within the portfolio. If you find them, then what?

Mark Fagnani, former ABL lender and now Senior Managing Director for Clear Thinking Group, a turnaround and advisory firm, and Jeff Brandlin, President of Brandlin Associates, a leading forensic accounting firm that also does workouts and restructurings, will lead a discussion detailing what used to work, why it might not work for the time being, what can be done in turn to help and what it all means in terms of safeguarding your ABL portfolio.

Pricing:
Members $0
Non-Members $95

Details/Registration:
https://www.sfnet.com/home/events/event-detail/2020/04/21/default-calendar/webinar-portfolio-management-and-fraud-detection-prevention

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Captain Crozier Developments
The Saga

Acting secretary of the Navy resigns
  after calling ousted aircraft carrier captain 'stupid'
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/07/politics/modly-resign-crozier-esper-trump/index.html

Acting Navy secretary blasts air carrier captain
  as ‘too naive or too stupid’ in speech to sailors
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Navy-chief-blasts-air-carrier-captain-as-too-15181872.php

He Led a Top Navy Ship. Now He Sits in Quarantine,
    Fired and Infected.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/us/politics/coronavirus-aircraft-carrier-roosevelt-crozier.html

 
Captain Crozier Is a Hero
  Theodore Roosevelt, my great-grandfather, would agree
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/opinion/coronavirus-crozier-roosevelt.html?searchResultPosition=1

News Briefs----

'Nightmare': 3 small-business owners describe
   process of applying for PPP coronavirus loans
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nightmare-3-small-business-owners-describe-process-of-applying-for-ppp-coronavirus-loans-132110725.html

Verizon customers complain they can’t get help
   with internet service for months
https://nypost.com/2020/04/07/verizon-customers-say-they-cant-get-internet-fixed-for-months/

Wow: Southwest Airlines Flew 56 Ghost Flights Last Week
  "non-essential travel is at an absolute minimum"
https://simpleflying.com/southwest-56-ghost-flights/

New Zealand isn’t just flattening the curve.
   It’s squashing it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/new-zealand-isnt-just-flattening-the-curve-its-squashing-it/2020/04/07/6cab3a4a-7822-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html

 

 

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You May Have Missed---

Jamie Dimon predicts a 'major recession' is on its way
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/06/investing/jamie-dimon-jpmorgan-chase-shareholder-letter/index.html

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Sports Briefs---

What unprecedented NFL Draft 2020 will look like in ESPN’s hands
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/81140/What-unprecedented-NFL-Draft-2020-will-look-like-in-ESPN-s-hands

John Harbaugh worried about NFL tech security
http://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/81136/John-Harbaugh-worried-about-NFL-tech-security

Have Raiders closed up shop in Alameda early?
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/04/06/have-raiders-closed-up-shop-in-alameda-early/

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California Nuts Briefs---

Virus Count and Deaths in California Counties Map
https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2020/coronavirus-map/

 

Governor Newsom: California’s COVID-19 curve is ‘stretching,’
    cases jump by 10 percent
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/07/governor-newsom-californias-covid-19-curve-is-stretching-cases-jump-by-10-percent/

Coronavirus: Schools in six more Bay Area counties
   to remain closed for the academic year
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/07/coronavirus-schools-in-six-bay-area-counties-to-remain-closed-for-the-year/

Coronavirus: California scrambles to issue extra $600
   jobless payments amid economic meltdown
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/07/coronavirus-state-extra-600-jobless-payments-amid-economic-meltdown-jobs-layoff-tech/

Good news for Bay Area: Tech hiring despite the coronavirus
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Good-news-for-Bay-Area-Tech-hiring-despite-the-15180808.php

California halts tenant evictions statewide,
   court governing body rules
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/California-halts-tenant-evictions-statewide-15183200.php

Google buys Cisco building, widens north San Jose holdings
now owns 25 acres next to light rail station + near future BART stops
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/07/google-buys-cisco-building-north-san-jose-tech-real-estate-jobs-economy/

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“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Burgundy Producer Releases Back-Vintages
    To Combat Wine Tariffs
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathrinetodd/2020/03/31/burgundy-producer-releases-backvintages-to-combat-wine-tariffs/#2e9d93011da7

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Wins 2020
     Green Medal Leader Award
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=228994

Michael David Winery Reveals New Package
    For Old Favorite, Lodi Red
https://www.winebusiness.com/newreleases/?go=getArticle&dataId=229041

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

US/International Wine Events
http://www.localwineevents.com/

Leasing News Wine & Spirits Page
http://two.leasingnews.org/Recommendations/wnensprts.htm

This Day in History

     1726 – Birthday of Lewis Morris (d. 1798) at Westchester County, NY.  Signer of the Declaration of Independence.  All of the Morris property and nearly all of his wealth had been destroyed in the Revolution.  Morris should have left Congress to ward off an impending British attack on New York which, by the end of June, had not occurred. Instead, Morris was on hand to sign the Declaration, even though he knew that a large British army had landed within a few miles of his estate, that their armed ships were lying within cannon shot of his homestead, and that his extensive possessions would probably be pillaged. "Damn the consequences, give me the pen," Morris is said to have shouted. Soon after, more than a thousand acres of woodland, all located on navigable water, were burned, his house was ransacked, his family driven away, his livestock captured, his domestics and tenants dispersed, and the entire property laid to waste and ruined. For the next six years, he and his family suffered many privations, until the evacuation of New York City. Early in 1777, he relinquished his seat in Congress to his half-brother, Gouverneur, on which occasion that body passed a resolution complimenting him and his colleagues "for their long and faithful services." http:www.lewismorris.com/
    1731 - William Williams (d. 1811) was born at Lebanon, CT.  Signer of the Declaration of Independence. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/williams.htm
    1823 - Marines chased pirates east of Havana, Cuba.
    1832 - Some 300 American troops of the 6th Infantry left Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, to confront the Sauk Indians in what would become known as the Black Hawk War.
    1834 - Previously, mayors had been chosen by a board of the Common Council but the first city mayor was elected in New York City when Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence, a Democrat, defeated Gulian Crommelin Verplanack, a Whig, in the three-day election which ended April 10.  There were 34,988 votes cast, of which 17,573 were for Lawrence, 17,393 for Verplanck, and 22 for others.  Seven other municipal officers were also elected.
    1855 - Stonemasons were laying the foundation of Ft. Point in San Francisco. Massive granite blocks were coming from Monterey for the construction. A top tourist destination today.
    1865 - General Robert E. Lee's retreat was cut off near Appomattox Court House. Lee requested to meet with General Ulysses Grant to discuss possible surrender.
        1872 - The "Father of Canadian Rodeo," O. Raymond Knight (d. 1947) was born at Payson, UT. His father, the Utah mining magnate Jesse Knight, founded the town of Raymond, Alberta in 1901. In 1902, Raymond produced Canada's first rodeo, "Raymond Stampede." He also built rodeo's first grandstand and first chute in 1903.
    1873 - Alfred Paraf of New York City, who organized the Oleo-Margarine Manufacturing Company, obtained a patent on his process for purifying and separating fats.  In 1886, Congress imposed a tax regarding the manufacturer, importing and exporting of oleomargarine.  In 1877, New York enacted “an act for protection of dairymen and to prevent deception in sales of butter.”
    1886 - Alice Throckmorton McLean was born.  She was president of the American Women's Voluntary Services in World War II with a working membership of more than 325,000 who did everything from selling bonds to teaching, to mechanical work, to air raid defense management.  Her mother was one of the founders of the day nursery school movement. (Studied the British, Finnish, and Swiss volunteer organizations and founded the AWVS in 1940 as a private organization.)  At first no one knew what to do with the organization since the U.S. was still at peace, there was a prevailing belief of isolationism among many politicians, and, of course, women were thought to be worthless except as mothers and housekeepers. The AWVS gave first aid classes and women joined by the thousands. They were involved in defense photography, map reading, child care, workshop, conservation, salvage, canteens, rehabilitation and motor transport, even fruit pickers. They sold a billion dollars’ worth of War Bonds. They took photographs of men and women in the service for their families back home, made and reconditioned clothing for children and babies, and chauffeured almost 400 military cars. They knew what to do even if the politicians didn't.  
    1904 - Hirsch Jacobs (d. 1970), thoroughbred trainer and owner, was born at New York, New York.  Jacobs became a trainer in 1923 and was particularly adept at selecting horses in claiming races.  He saddled 3,596 winners and earned $15,340,354.  In 1958, Hirsch Jacobs was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.  
    1909 - Birthday of novelist John Fante (d. 1983) in Denver.
http://www.canongate.net/people/pep.taf?_p=2154
    1912 - Sonja Henie (d. 1969), Olympic gold medal figure skater, was born at Oslo, Norway. Henie competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics when she was just 11, but finished last in ladies' singles. She won gold medals at the Winter Games of 1928, 1932 and 1936. She became a professional skater and an actress “Sun Valley Serenade.”
    1913 – The 17th Amendment was ratified and established the popular election of Senators by the people of the states. The amendment supersedes Article 1, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held. The advent and popularity of primary elections during the last decade of the 19th century and the early 20th century, and a string of senatorial scandals, most notably involving William Lorimer, an Illinois political boss in 1909, forced the Senate to end its resistance to a constitutional amendment requiring direct popular election of senators.
    1918 - A big spring snowstorm buried the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia with 34 inches of snow at Wardensville, 30 inches at Moorefield, and 29 inches at Romney.
    1919 - A tornado swarm in northern Texas resulted in the deaths of 64 persons
    1921 - Guitarist Leroy Holmes born Woodbine,FL
    1922 - Singer Carmen McRae Birthday, Harlem.  Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable.  McRae drew inspiration from Billie Holiday, but established her own distinctive voice. She went on to record more than 60 albums, enjoying a rich musical career, performing and recording in the United States, Europe, and Japan.
http://www.ddg.com/LIS/InfoDesignF96/Ismael/jazz/1950/McRae.html
http://www.gallery41.com/JazzArtists/CarmenMcRae.htm
    1926 - The lightning-set oil depot fire near San Luis Obispo, CA boiled over and engulfed 900 acres. Many tornado vortices resulted from the intense heat of the fire. One such tornado traveled 1000 yards, picked up a house and carried it 150 feet, killing the two occupants inside.
    1933 - Broadway lyricist Fred Ebb (d. 2004) was born in NYC. He is best known for the musical "Cabaret," which opened in New York in November, 1966 and ran for 1,166 performances. The original cast included Joel Grey, Jill Haworth and Lotte Lenya. Grey reprised his role in the 1972 film version of "Cabaret," which also starred Liza Minelli. The film won a number of Oscars.
    1935 - Congress approved the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help relieve the economic hardship of the Great Depression.   http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr08.html
    1939 - The first Intercollegiate Rodeo was held at historic Godshall Ranch, Apple Valley, CA. The student cowboys and cowgirls, who hailed from California and Arizona colleges and universities, were assisted by world champion professional cowboys including Harry Carey, Dick Foran, Curley Fletcher, Tex Ritter and Errol Flynn from Hollywood. Collegiate rodeos had been held since 1919 at Texas A&M University. College cowboys and cowgirls organized a national association in Texas in 1949 named National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, which continues today as the only national college rodeo organization.
    1943 - Wendell Willkie’s "One World" was published for the first time. In less than two months, sales reached a million copies.  In 1940, he lost the presidential race to Franklin D. Roosevelt by almost five million votes.
    1945 - CREWS, JOHN R., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company F, 253d Infantry, 63d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Lobenbacherhof, Germany, 8 April 1945. Entered service at: Bowlegs, Okla. Birth: Golden, Okla. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 8 April 1945 near Lobenbacherhof, Germany. As his company was advancing toward the village under heavy fire, an enemy machinegun and automatic rifle with rifle support opened upon it from a hill on the right flank. Seeing that his platoon leader had been wounded by their fire, S/Sgt. Crews, acting on his own initiative, rushed the strongpoint with 2 men of his platoon. Despite the fact that 1 of these men was killed and the other was badly wounded, he continued his advance up the hill in the face of terrific enemy fire. Storming the well-dug-in position single-handedly, he killed 2 of the crew of the machinegun at pointblank range with his M 1 rifle and wrested the gun from the hands of the German whom he had already wounded. He then with his rifle charged the strongly emplaced automatic rifle. Although badly wounded in the thigh by crossfire from the remaining enemy, he kept on and silenced the entire position with his accurate and deadly rifle fire. His actions so unnerved the remaining enemy soldiers that 7 of them surrendered and the others fled. His heroism caused the enemy to concentrate on him and permitted the company to move forward into the village.
    1946 - James Augustus ("Catfish") Hunter (d. 1999), Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, born at Hertford, NC.   Hunter was the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 career games by the age of 31.  He was also considered the first big-name free agent. After a contract violation on an annuity by Oakland A’s owner Charlie Finley in 1974, Hunter won arbitration in December and he was allowed to leave the Athletics as a free agent.  Hunter's statistics while he was with the Athletics were impressive: four consecutive years with at least 20 wins, and four World Series wins without a loss.  Two weeks after he won his arbitration, Hunter became the highest-paid player in baseball when he signed a five-year contract with the Yankees worth $3.35 million.  For his career he was a member of five World Series champions.  He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in his early 50s. He died of the disease about a year after his diagnosis.
    1949 - What television does today, radio did in 1949, drawing our full attention to three-year-old Kathy Fiscus of San Marino, CA.  While playing, she fell into an abandoned well pipe 14 inches wide and 120 feet deep. Rescue workers toiled for two days while national attention was focused on the tragedy. Her body was recovered Apr 10, 1949. An alarmed nation suddenly became attentive to other abandoned wells and similar hazards, and "Kathy Fiscus laws" were enacted in a number of places requiring new safety measures to prevent recurrence of such an accident.
    1950 - J.D. Salinger's story “For Esme—For Love and Squalor” appears in the New Yorker magazine.
http://www.levity.com/corduroy/salinger.htm
    1952 - President Harry S. Truman seized control of the nation's steel mills by presidential order in an attempt to prevent a shutdown by strikers. On Apr 29, a US District Court declared the seizure unconstitutional and workers immediately walked out. Production dropped from 300,000 tons a day to less than 20,000. After 53 days the strike ended on July 24, with steelworkers receiving a 16¢ hourly wage raise plus a 5.4¢ hourly increase in fringe benefits.
    1954 - Top Hits
“Wanted” - Perry Como
“Cross Over the Bridge” - Patti Page
“A Girl, A Girl” - Eddie Fisher
“Slowly” - Webb Pierce
    1955 - The first Medal of Honor to a helicopter pilot was conferred posthumously upon Lieutenant (j.g.) John Kelvin Koelsch of Hudson, NY.   On July 3, 1951, Koelsch and Aviation Machinist Mate George M. Neal volunteered to rescue James V. Wilkins from North Korea.  They took off in a helicopter without fighter escort.  The helicopter was shot down and the three men were captured a few days later.  Koelsch died of malnutrition and dysentery in a Korean prisoner-of-war camp on October 16, 1951.
    1956 - The Johnny Burnette Trio makes its TV debut, performing "Train Kept A-Rollin'" on ABC's Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. They will appear two more times on the show, but never win.
    1957 - Buddy Holly records "Words of Love," "Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues"
    1962 - Top Hits
“Johnny Angel” - Shelley Fabares
“Good Luck Charm” - Elvis Presley
“Slow Twistin'” - Chubby Checker
“She's Got You” - Patsy Cline
    1963 - Steve Brooks became only the fifth race jockey to ride 4,000 career winners.
    1963 - The 35th Annual Academy Awards at Santa Monica's Civic Auditorium (Los Angeles). Frank Sinatra hosted.  Seven Oscars including the #1 award for Best Picture went to "Lawrence of Arabia" (Sam Spiegel, producer).  The epic production earned Oscars for David Lean (Best Director); Freddie Young (Best Cinematography/Color); John Box, John Stoll, and Dario Simoni (Best Art Direction/Set Decoration/Color); John Cox with Shepperton SSD (Best Sound); Anne V. Coates (Best Film Editing); Maurice Jarre (Best Music/Score - Substantially Original).  Films of 1962 included "The Manchurian Candidate,” "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Walk on the Wild Side," "The Longest Day," "The Music Man," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "Birdman of Alcatraz," and "Taras Bulba." Those that won the top awards other than "Lawrence of Arabia" were "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Best Actor - Gregory Peck; Best Art Direction/Set Decoration/Black-and-White - Alexander Golitzen, Henry Bumstead, Oliver Emert; Best Writing/Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium - Horton Foote); "The Miracle Worker" (Best Actress - Anne Bancroft, Best Supporting Actress - Patty Duke); "Sweet Bird of Youth" (Best Supporting Actor - Ed Begley); and "Days of Wine and Roses" [title song] (Best Music/Song: - Henry Mancini (music), Johnny Mercer lyrics). http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148906.html
    1963 - John and Cynthia Lennon become the proud parents of a baby boy who they name Julian, after John's late mother, Julia. The lad would grow up to have a music career of his own, scoring Top Ten hits with "Valotte" (#9 in 1984) and "Too Late for Goodbyes" (#5 in 1985).
    1964 - The Supremes record "Where Did Our Love Go"
    1966 - In the last of a series of moves to abolish poll taxes, a three-judge federal court at Jackson, MS, outlawed Mississippi's $2 poll tax as a voting requirement for state and local elections.
    1966 - At the Astrodome, the Astros and Dodgers play baseball's first game on synthetic grass. Thanks to the Monsanto chemical company, who proposed using an experimental playing surface of nylon grass, the plan to play on an all-dirt field, necessitated by the need to paint the dome's glass panes to reduce the glare which prevented natural grass from growing, was alleviated by the use of 'Astro Turf'
    1966 - The Beatles, "Got To Get You into My Life
    1966 - In San Francisco, The Jefferson Airplane opened at California Hall on Polk Street.
    1967 - *MICHAEL, DON LESLIE, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, 1 73d Airborne Brigade.  Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 April 1967. Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala. Born: 31 July 1947, Florence, Ala. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Michael, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving with Company C. Sp4c. Michael was part of a platoon which was moving through an area of suspected enemy activity. While the rest of the platoon stopped to provide security, the squad to which Sp4c. Michael was assigned moved forward to investigate signs of recent enemy activity. After moving approximately 125 meters, the squad encountered a single Viet Cong soldier. When he was fired upon by the squad's machine gunner, other Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons from a well-concealed bunker to the squad's right front. The volume of enemy fire was so withering as to pin down the entire squad and halt all forward movement. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sp4c. Michael exposed himself to throw 2 grenades, but failed to eliminate the enemy position. From his position on the left flank, Sp4c. Michael maneuvered forward with 2 more grenades until he was within 20 meters of the enemy bunkers, when he again exposed himself to throw 2 grenades, which failed to detonate. Undaunted, Sp4c. Michael made his way back to the friendly positions to obtain more grenades. With 2 grenades in hand, he again started his perilous move towards the enemy bunker, which by this time was under intense artillery fire from friendly positions. As he neared the bunker, an enemy soldier attacked him from a concealed position. Sp4c. Michael killed him with his rifle and, in spite of the enemy fire and the exploding artillery rounds, was successful in destroying the enemy positions. Sp4c. Michael took up pursuit of the remnants of the retreating enemy. When his comrades reached Sp4c. Michael, he had been mortally wounded. His inspiring display of determination and courage saved the lives of many of his comrades and successfully eliminated a destructive enemy force. Sp4c. Michael's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
    1968 - The Beatles went gold again, receiving a gold record for the single, "Lady Madonna".
    1968 - Petula Clark's first (and only) TV special, entitled simply “Petula,” airs on NBC, featuring guest star Harry Belafonte performing a duet on an antiwar song she'd written called "On The Path Of Glory." During taping, Clark had reached out to touch Belafonte's arm in a spontaneous gesture, causing the show's sponsor Chrysler to protest, fearing the interracial contact would upset viewers in the American south. As a result, the show is infamous even before it airs: Petula and the show's executive producer, her husband Claude Wolff, respond to the pressure by having all other takes of the duet destroyed so that the gesture would have to be aired. It was, historically, the first interracial contact to be broadcast on American television. (Director Steve Binder would go on to helm Elvis Presley's "'68 Comeback Special" later that year.)
    1969 – The Montreal Expos, a National League expansion team, played their first regular season game, beating the New York Mets, 10-9, at NY's Shea Stadium.  The Expos finished the year in sixth place in the NL East with a record of 52-110. They won their first division title in the strike-shortened 1994 season.
    1969 - Neil Diamond becomes the first performer to sell out the Forum in Los Angeles for nine nights consecutively.
    1970 - LITTRELL, GARY LEE, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Advisory Team 21, 11 Corps Advisory Group. place and date: Kontum province, Republic of Vietnam, 4-8 April 1970. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 26 October 1944, Henderson, Ky. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Littrell, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 21, distinguished himself while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23d Battalion, 2d Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army, near Dak Seang. After establishing a defensive perimeter on a hill on April 4, the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack which killed the Vietnamese commander, 1 advisor, and seriously wounded all the advisors except Sfc. Littrell. During the ensuing 4 days, SFC Littrell exhibited near superhuman endurance as he single-handedly bolstered the besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety, he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fire. His dauntless will instilled in the men of the 23d Battalion a deep desire to resist. Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Sfc. Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy, redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. When the beleaguered battalion was finally ordered to withdraw, numerous ambushes were encountered. Sfc. Littrell repeatedly prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes to within 50 meters of their position. Through his indomitable courage and complete disregard for his safety, he averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sfc. Littrell over an extended period of time were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him and the U.S. Army.
    1970 - Top Hits
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” - Simon & Garfunkel
“Let It Be” - The Beatles
“Instant Karma (We All Shine On)” - John Ono Lennon
“Tennessee Bird Walk” - Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
    1971 - New York City changed the “Sport of Kings” irrevocably by opening the nation's first off-track betting system.  Horseplayers were now able to patronize OTB parlors throughout the five boroughs instead of going to the track to place their wagers.
    1971 – “Chicago” became the first rock group to play Carnegie Hall in New York City. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Chicago scored big with these hits: "Make Me Smile", "25 or 6 to 4", "Saturday in the Park", "Old Days", "Baby, What a Big Surprise", "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and many others.
    1973 - Gilbert O'Sullivan scored his second UK #1 with "Get Down". It reached #7 in the US.
    1974 - Henry (“Hammerin' Hank”) Aaron hit the 715th home run of his career, breaking the record set by Babe Ruth. Playing for the Atlanta Braves, Aaron broke the record at Atlanta in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished his career in 1976 with a total of 755 home runs. This record remains unbroken, save for the PED-enhanced record of Barry Bonds. At the time of his retirement, Aaron also held records for first in RBIs, second in at-bats and runs scored and third in base hits.
    1974 - Elton John earns another gold record. "Bennie and the Jets" has John smiling even more as it's a big hit on the R&B charts as well.
    1975 - After a weeklong mission to South Vietnam, Gen. Frederick Weyand, U.S. Army Chief of Staff and former Vietnam commander, reports to Congress that South Vietnam cannot survive without additional military aid.
    1975 - Frank Robinson became the manager of the Cleveland Indians and the first Black manager of a Major League team.  Robinson hit a home run in his first at bat as the Indians' designed hitter, and Cleveland beat the New York Yankees 5-3.
http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cle/history/cle_history_ti
meline.jsp?period=4
http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/rob
inson_frank.htm
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/mgrtmci.shtml
    1975 - Minnie Riperton receives her only gold record for "Lovin' You," her recent Number One record.
    1975 - "The Godfather: Part II" won half of the top six awards at the 47th Annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. It won for Best Picture: (Francis Ford Coppola, Gray Frederickson, Fred Roos, producers); Best Director (Francis Ford Coppola); and Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro); plus Best Writing/Screenplay Adapted from Other Material (Francis Coppola, Mario Puzo); Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Dean Tavoularis, Angelo P. Graham, George Nelson; and Best Music/Original Dramatic Score (Nino Rota, Carmine Coppola). The other three crowd- pleaser awards went to Best Actor Art Carney for his "Harry and Tonto" role; to Best Actress Ellen Burstyn for her part in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"; and to Ingrid Bergman as Best Supporting Actress in "Murder on the Orient Express". Hosts Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, and Frank Sinatra livened up the party, even though murder, intrigue and disaster were in the run. The award for Best Music/Song went to Al Kasha & Joel Hirschhorn for "We May Never Love Like This Again" from the "Towering Inferno". "Inferno" also won for Best Cinematography (Fred J. Koenekamp, Joseph F. Biroc) and Best Film Editing (Harold F. Kress & Carl Kress); while Best Sound went to "Earthquake" (Ronald Pierce and Melvin M. Metcalfe, Sr.) and Robert Towne's "Chinatown" won for Best Writing/Original Screenplay.http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149298.html
    1978 - Top Hits
“Night Fever” - Bee Gees
“Stayin' Alive” - Bee Gees
“Lay Down Sally” - Eric Clapton
“Ready for the Times to Get Better” - Crystal Gayle
    1982 - An act of heroism was credited with holding the death toll to seven in the firestorm that engulfed the Caldecott Tunnel in the Oakland hills. When an AC Transit bus collided with a truck what was towing two trailers of gasoline in the westbound lanes, Steve Rutledge ran back to the tunnel entrance, stopping cars that would otherwise have driven into the fire. Rutledge's mother, June M. Ruthledge, tried to call for help from an emergency phone inside the tunnel and was consumed by the explosion and flames.
    1985 - The Ellie Greenwich tribute musical “Leader of the Pack” opens on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre.
    1986 - Facing Nolan Ryan of the Astros, Giant rookie Will Clark homers in his first Major League at bat.
    1986 - Top Hits
“Rock Me Amadeus” - Falco
“R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” - John Cougar Mellencamp
“Kiss” - Prince & The Revolution
“100% Chance of Rain” - Gary Morris
    1986 - It took 18 years of singing the U.S. national anthem, but on this day, at long last, baritone Robert Merrill of the Metropolitan Opera became the first person to both sing the anthem and throw out the first ball at Yankee Stadium for the Yanks’ home opener.
    1987 - For the first time in modern Major League history, two 300-game winners pitched for the same team in the same game. Phil Niekro and Steve Carlton combined their pitching talents to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 14-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.  Niekro started for the Indians and earned his 312th career victory. Carlton pitched four shutout innings of relief.
    1989 - 26-year-old David Hirsch replaced 59-year-old Dick Clark on "American Bandstand." His debut also marked "Bandstand's" move to the USA cable network from national syndication. Clark had been the host of the program for 33 years, introducing teenagers to Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five and Madonna, as well as to such dance crazes as the Twist and the Jerk. The program debuted on a Philadelphia TV station in 1952, and Clark took over in 1956, the year before "Bandstand" went on the ABC network.
    1989 - Two dozen cities in the southwest reported new record high temperatures for the date. Phoenix, Arizona hit 104 degrees which tied its record for the month of April set only the day before.
    1990 - While we celebrate birthdays, it is perhaps fitting to remember Ryan White today. This young man, born Dec 6, 1971, at Kokomo, IN, put the face of a child with AIDS and helped promote greater understanding of the disease. Ryan, a hemophiliac, contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. Banned from the public school system in Central Indiana at the age of 10, he moved with his mother and sister to Cicero, IN, where he was accepted by students and faculty alike. Ryan once stated that he only wanted to be treated as a normal teenager, but that was not to be as media attention made him a celebrity. A few days after attending the Academy Awards in 1990, 18-year-old Ryan was hospitalized and on Palm Sunday, lost his valiant fight at Indianapolis, IN. His funeral was attended by many celebrities who wanted to honor him.
    1990 - Twenty-two cities reported record low temperatures for the date as readings dipped into the 20s and 30s across much of the eastern U.S. Freezing temperatures severely damaged peach and apple orchards in West Virginia, where prolonged mild weather since January had caused an early blooming of spring vegetation. State and Federal agencies estimated a 50 percent loss in production for peaches and "Delicious Red Apples".
    1996 - The first of two late season heavy snowfalls in only three days over the northeast dumped 12 inches of snow at Slide Mountain, New York, 10.2 inches, at Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and 7 inches at Falmouth, Massachusetts. The 6.1 inches at Binghamton, New York brought its seasonal snowfall total to 131.8 inches -- its snowiest winter ever.
    2000 - Santana performs at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with people who collaborated with him on his Supernatural album including Dave Matthews, Lauryn Hill and Everlast.
    2003 - In a frigid 35-degree home opener, with the fans chanting his name, Hideki Matsui hit his first Major League home run, a grand slam into the right field bleachers. After be greeted with a warm reception in the pre-game ceremonies and a standing ovation after making a great defensive play, Godzilla receives a thunderous applause and curtain call from the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd after his fifth inning bases-full poke against the Twins.

Stanley Cup Champions:
    1943 - Detroit Red Wings.