Archive: August 2, 2001-$330 million securities frau
dhttp://leasingnews.org/PDF/Fanghella.pdf

(2/2003) Former PinnFund CEO Plea bargain- 10 years in prison
(04/2010) PinnFund Michael Fanghella Out of Jail, Seeks $150,000 Job
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/financial-crime-politics/2010/apr/18/michael-fanghella-seeking-150000-job/

Full story (in depth):
http://www.leasingnews.org/docs/Pinn_1.htm

Classified Ads---Sales

Cherry Hill, NJ College grad seeking entry level sales position for equipment leasing and financing in small to mid-size ticket markets. Have 6 months experience in the industry and self-motivated. Contact Matt at 609-280-2178 or email at mkuzan@gmail.com

California Aggressive, competitive self-starter with vendor/direct equipment leasing and asset-based lending experience. Success in business banking sales and financial planning. Email: dsp559@hotmail.com | Resume

South Central, FL Years of exp in mid-ticket niched leasing. Not currently in leasing. Seek entry or other position with direct lender. David34983@att.net

Minneapolis, MN 16 years leasing experience from micro to large ticket market, variety of equipment. Most recently calling on vendor telecom dealers in Upper Midwest.  golfadm@yahoo.com

Montgomery, AL Individual with 10 years advertising sales exp. & 7 years insurance sales exp. Wants independent contractor situation in Alabama. Work with leasing company or broker. 334-590-5133 E-mail: billmcneal2003@yahoo.com

Orange County, CA 20+ years in leasing sales & sales management. Have estab. existing remote office with Lessee /Vender following. Looking for a partnership w/funding source. shermbp@gmail.com

Philadelphia Metro Area - 30 Years experience Healthcare sales/ management- 3 years experience newly create "small-ticket" healthcare division. Good success - Mitch Utz 215-460-4483 Email: mitutz@msn.com

Philadelphia, Pa 16 years small to large ticket sales exp., variety equip. w/vendor & direct. Top performer, building new and existing territories. Email at phillylease@hotmail.com

Pittsburgh , PA Aggressive self starter looking for leasing position w/10 plus yrs sales exp., plus banking experience 814-227-4592 mwiser500@hotmail.com

Pittsburgh, PA Over 25 years of leasing experience including Captive, Dealer, Broker, and Third Party. Multiple equipment types. Seeking a Territory or National Sales position. vsiegel2@aol.com

San Francisco Bay Area: Business Development “Hunter” with transferable book of business in multiple segments: commercial construction, technology, fitness, etc. Years of managerial experience: can also be a “player/coach”. E-mail: VdrPgmBizDev@aol.com

Texas/Oklahoma 15 year lease vet looking for plact to take business.great references. all major equipment types. open to compensation. please contact if interested. E-mail: bankingdallas@yahoo.com

 

For a full listing of all “job wanted” ads, please go to:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

Other e-Mail Posting Sites:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Posting_sites.htm

LEAF: 158 Laid Off/Specialty Finance goes Dark
by Kit Menkin

A highly reliable source told Leasing News that LEAF Financial, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

“…158 people were laid off this past week ….The CEO is telling long timers to get your resume out there and start looking for a new job.”

Dwight Galloway, CLP, turned off the lights at LEAF Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday. He remains under contract with LEAF.

Make those three well-informed and highly reliable sources about the “Trillion/Phoenix start-up.” Reportedly it will be starting with a $60 million, 1000 lease portfolio purchased from LEAF. Nothing is “official” at this time.

In the meantime, several readers asked Leasing News if there was any comment regarding the Resource Capital announcement about the raise of capital going to a Real Estate Investment Trust: “….the Company expanded its equipment leasing and loan portfolio by the acquisition, through its taxable REIT subsidiary, of a $118 million pool of equipment leases and loans from an affiliate of its manager at a cost of $14 million plus the assumption of $104 million of non-recourse, term notes secured by the leases and loans. Guggenheim Securities, Inc. was the arranger and initial purchaser of the notes. The Company believes it will realize in excess of a 17% GAAP return on equity after all credit provisions. The portfolio is predominantly comprised of small ticket business equipment loans.”

The press release was printed in Leasing News last week, made the top ten of most stories read. LEAF nor Resource Capital nor Resource America returns emails or telephone calls, so there is no comment--- but certainly questions.

Looks like LEAF may not be around for very long. CEO Crit DeMent knows the drill. Perhaps after reading this, he may make a comment for readers of Leasing News.

Ex-Con Sheldon Player still a gambler

In the latest saga of ex-convict and big money gambler Sheldon Player, the trustee for the bankruptcy regarding Equipment Acquisition Resources, Palatine, Illinois filed a motion which will be heard on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois regarding $4,737,261.36 paid to the IRS.

Named are Mark W. Anstett, former president, now in bankruptcy, Martha J. Anstett, his wife, Sheldon G. Player, and Donna L. Malone (Player's alleged wife, who was secretary of the corporation.)

"Plaintiff, Equipment Acquisition Resources, Inc by its attorneys, Arnstein & Lehr, LLP, hereby files this Adversary Complaint for Avoidance and Recovery of Fraudulent Transfers against the United States of America, Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").

Filed July 30, 2007:
"8. In the period from at least September, 2007 until October 8, 2009, the Debtor engaged in a massive fraud by which it sold equipment at inflated prices and leased the equipment back from various lenders. The Debtor misrepresented the value of the equipment, and pledged certain equipment multiple times to secure the financing. During this period of time, one or more of the officers, directors, and shareholders of the Debtor knew that the Debtor was engaged in the fraud, and knew that the Debtor was, in effect, not a real, functioning company. On information and belief, the Debtor paid substantial amounts of money to its board of directors and officers during this time.

9. On October 8, 2009, after it became apparent that the Debtor engaged in fraudulent activity, the members of the Debtor's board of directors and its officers, including Donna Malone ("Malone") and Mark Anstett ("Anstett"), resigned. The shareholders elected William A. Brandt, Jr. as the sole member of the board of directors and as the Chief Restructuring Officer (the "CRO"). The CRO filed the bankruptcy petition to manage the Debtor's assets for the benefit of all creditors.

10. The CRO's investigation has determined that on nine occasions from October 15, 2007 until December 3, 2008, the Debtor made transfers to the United States Treasury to pay taxes of individual owners and officers of the Debtor, including but not limited to Sheldon Player, Malone, and Anstett, along with Anstett's wife. The aggregate amount of the payments was $4,737,261.36. Exhibit A to this Complaint sets forth the $2,412,973.36 of payments made within the two year period prior to the bankruptcy filing."

Leasing News sent out an alert on Mark Anstett's new company (1). It is interesting to note the only inquiries Leasing News has received about Sheldon Player have been from several gambling casinos.

It is interesting to note the information from a banker on the credit committee for the bankruptcy the story:

"Sheldon Player, while traveling from Chicago to Jackson Hole via Denver on 9/15/09 was found to have a duffle bag containing $700,000 in CASH. He claimed, when greeted by the federal authorities in Denver, that the cash was gambling winnings. The money was confiscated, but go figure, returned to Sheldon when he "supposedly" produced gambling receipts (which I'd assume he fabricated too)." Maybe he didn't fabricate them, but then again, maybe he owes money to the casinos, too.

(1) Alert---Mark Anstett, InSpec Global Technologies, LLC
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_28.htm#alert_inspec

E.A.R. vrs. I.R.S. July 30, 2010 filing:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/EARvsIRS.pdf

Previous stories:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Sheldon_Player.htm

Bank Beat---Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon
108 Bank Failures, 20th in FL & 11th in GA

The 15 branches of LibertyBank, Eugene, Oregon were closed with Home Federal Bank, Nampa, Idaho, to assume all of the deposits. It was the third bank to fail in Oregon.

The bank also acquired the operations of Commercial Equipment Lease Corporation, a commercial leasing subsidiary of LibertyBank located in Eugene. The leases of the subsidiary are included as covered assets under the loss share agreement. Most of the equipment listed on the web site as repossessed or "Off Lease for Sale" are trucks and flatbed trailers. http://www.commlease.com/offlease_listing.phtml

Whether the leasing company will operate under the FDIC or will be closed is not known at press time.

In addition to expanding its presence in Oregon, Home Federal is planning on a branch and commercial loan production office in Portland.

As of March 31, 2010, LibertyBank had approximately $768.2 million in total assets and $718.5 million in total deposits.

Home Federal Bank paid the FDIC a premium of 1.0 percent for the deposits of LibertyBank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Home Federal Bank agreed to purchase approximately $419.7 million of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and Home Federal Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $300.0 million of LibertyBank's assets.

There were 213 full-time employees. Net equity went from $70.8 million March 31, 2009 to $40.5 million with $44.3 million in non-current loans. The bank had lost $5.5 million the previous period and lost $6.6 million March 31, 2010 following a charge off of $2.9 million in commercial and industrial loans, $463,000 in construction and land

development and $250,000 in non-residential property. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 4.18%

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $115.3 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10176.html

 

Coastal Community Bank, Panama City Beach, Florida with Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas to assume all the deposits. It was the 20th bank to fail in Florida this year (more than any other state.)

Coastal Community Bank had total assets of $372.9 million and total deposits of $363.2 million. The FDIC and Centennial Bank entered into loss-share transactions on $302.8 million of Coastal Community Bank’s assets.

The bank had 107 full time employees. Equity had fallen from $31.1 million March 31, 2009 to $13.5 million March 31, 2010 with $66.5 million in non-current loans. The bank had a $974,000 loss with $260,000 charge off in real estate loans. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 3.43%

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $94.5 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10174.html

 

Bayside Savings Bank, Port St. Joe, Florida with Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, to assume all the deposits and essentially all the assets. As of March 31, 2010, Bayside Savings Bank had total assets of $66.1 million and total deposits of $52.4 million. The FDIC and Centennial Bank entered into loss-share transactions on $48.3 million of Bayside Savings Bank's assets; cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $16.2 million for Bayside Savings Bank There were 16 full time employees. Equity of the bank had dropped from $14.79 million March 31, 2009 to $2.5 million with $3.7 million in non-current loans. The bank had a $1 million loss following $436,000 in real estate and land development; $189,000 in loans secured by 1-4 multifamily properties. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 5.40%

http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10174.html

The two branches of NorthWest Bank and Trust, Acworth, Georgia, were closed with State Bank and Trust Company, Macon, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits. It was the eleventh bank in Georgia to fail this year. Founded March 11, 2004 its branches serviced Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta with 24 full time employees.

Veteran banker Joe Evans and his group have now acquired nine of the 41 Georgia banks that have collapsed since August 2008, the most in any state.

As of March 31, 2010, NorthWest Bank and Trust had approximately $167.7 million in total assets and $159.4 million in total deposits. The FDIC and State Bank and Trust Company entered into a loss-share transaction on $107.6 million of NorthWest Bank and Trust's assets.

Net equity of the bank had gone from $13.4 million March 31, 2009 to $3.7 million March 31, 2010 with $21.6 million in non-current loans and loss of $1.9 million following a charge off of $304,000 in real estate construction and land development and $276,000 in non-farm non-residential properties. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 3.26%

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $39.8 million
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10172.html

 

The nine branches of The Cowlitz Bank, Longview, Washington were closed with Heritage Bank, Olympia, Washington, to assume all of the deposits. There were 110 full time employees with a branch in Wilsonville and Portland, Oregon, one in Vancouver, Washington, and four in Cowlitz County ((Castle Rock, Kalama (1937), Kelso, Longview)) and a branch each in Bellevue and Seattle.

Real estate overdevelopment continues to plague banks in the state.

As of March 31, 2010, The Cowlitz Bank had approximately $529.3 million in total assets and $513.9 million in total deposits. Heritage Bank paid the FDIC a premium of 1.0 percent for the deposits of The Cowlitz Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Heritage Bank agreed to purchase approximately $280.0 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.

Net equity of the bank had collapsed from $56.9 million March 31, 2009 to $19.8 million with $45 million in non-current loans. The bank had lost $1.6 million the previous time period and March 31,2010 a loss of $4 million following a charge off of $2.5 million in real estate construction and land development and $1.1 million in 1-4 multifamily residential properties. Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 5.42%

The FDIC and Heritage Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $160.9 million of The Cowlitz Bank's assets.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $68.9 million.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10175.html

List of Bank Failures
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/banklist.html

Bank Beat:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Bank_Beat.htm

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Looking for experienced vendor reps. across the country. A book of business is a plus... Our value proposition is unmatched in the industry. contact: mscritchfield@homecoastcapital.com www.homecoastcapital.com

Sales Account Executives: Jacksonville, FL/Philadelphia, PA. Small ticket funder with broad funding and exceptional vendor service capabilities. E-mail resume to: garyshivers@navitaslease.com Navitas Lease Finance Corp is an innovator in the Small Ticket Leasing Industry. We offer solutions to small-to-medium-sized businesses looking to acquire and finance equipment.

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Top Stories---July 26-July 30

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Richard Anderson passes away
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_26.htm#anderson

(2) LEAF Specialty to Vacate Premise by July 31st
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_26.htm#leaf_vacate

(3) Dwight Galloway: Last man to turn the lights out
by Kit Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_30.htm#galloway_lightsout

(4) Alert---Mark Anstett, InSpec Global Technologies
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_28.htm#alert_inspec

(5) Financial Pacific up-dated "Funder List ‘A’"
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_26.htm#fin_pac

(6) LEAF Financial Announces expansion of capital
http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442976&Itemid=28

(7) Sales makes it Happen---by S. Anthony Iannarino
"Where Sales Reps Really Go Wrong"
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_28.htm#reps_gowrong

(tie) (8) Pawnee Acknowledge Losses--But Remains Eager
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_30.htm#pawnee

(tie) (8) US Capital Corp. Joins “Broker-Lessor” List
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_30.htm#uscc_list

(9) The Famous Leasing News “The List” ---June
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_26.htm#list_june

(10) Sun National Bank “Conservative Loan” to Allied Health
by Christopher Menkin
http://leasingnews.org/archives/July2010/7_28.htm#sun_national

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

“Are Your Sales People Happy?”

A strong leasing company usually happens because they have a well trained and happy sales staff. Let me qualify this by saying I know the emotions of sales personnel are almost never happy enough. There is someone with a lower rate so therefore rates should be lower meaning rates are never low enough… or the credit people are often too tight… or the turn-around time could be faster…they need more time. So what do I mean about happy? Happy means they cannot get it better anywhere else even though they are constantly on the lookout for a better position.

Sales personnel need these two things to be happy. Recognition for success, and more money because they closed more sales. Yes, sometimes recognition is as important, or more important than money. Often the recognition helps them in a down time or gets them to work harder, smarter.

You would think that money was the most important incentive but in reality it is the acceptance from peers and management that stimulates them quite a bit. The first method to begin this process is to establish individual goals. They are best served by short time periods so at year end the goal has been reached. By having short time periods when a sales person is ahead of the goals a pat on the back is necessary. If a transaction is closed and results in a higher than normal return, then a notice in writing to the whole company should be prepared to feed the ego of the sales person. The same goes for reaching their goals and those who failed to do so.

I once worked for a banker that told me the reason banks have so many titles is that happy personnel come from the ability to show their peers that they were progressing in their job and receiving a promotion. I sometimes think it was in lieu of proper compensation. However it points out that sales personnel have a need to be able to show friends and family their successes. There are some sales personnel that love what they do and would prefer to continue as sales forever but they are rare and most look to progress and need stepping stones along the way. It would be best to create some titles in your company such as assistant sales, sales, senior sales, assist vice president, regional manager, national manager, technology senior sales manager…I think you get the idea.

On occasion with a good size sales force you need a presidents club or a top performer or Top Ten (company) Performer, a group that can be reached with outstanding performance. It should bet set at a standard that only 15% to 25% can reach and then the payoff would be something special. Or set a standard that is unlimited to the number that can achieve it so a sales person would be conspicuous by their absence.

Recognition from our peer group is a very strong motivator.

You need to not worry about sales personnel that do not reach their goals. They may be nice people but they are usually unhappy themselves and if they cannot cut the mustard it is time for them to leave and seek other positions. You need to question sales people that talk a good line but have multiple leasing companies in their resume. Some people are attracted to the sales position because of the freedom and compensation, but are not right for the job. I have always found that credit people and sales people are opposite ends of the spectrum. Both very good at what they do, but not good at the others job even if they both think they could do the others job because it is so easy. They come from different sides of the desk.

There is no easy way to maintain a sales force because they are by nature always looking over the next horizon but the more you work at it to keep them happy and give them that recognition for good performance and a good kick for a bad performance the better off you will be. The worst thing you can do is to ignore them when times seem to be acceptable. The best sales people are the steady performers that are always reaching their goals without a large one time deal.

Recognition is as important as money, sometimes more.

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-327-8666.

He invites your questions and queries.

Previous #102 Columns:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Leasing_102/Index.htm

(This ad is a “trade” for the writing of this column. Opinions
contained in the column are those of Mr. Terry Winders, CLP)

Costa Mesa, California--Adopt-a-Dog

Grace
Cocker Spaniel
Medium Senior Female Dog Pet ID: 21-10-03457

"Grace is 12 yrs old and was pulled from a high kill shelter to spend her time in Newport Beach. She is very happy to stand around with people and be petted."

Grace is up-to-date with routine shots, house trained and spayed/neutered

Email: vschomburg@nbpd.org
* Newport Beach Animal Shelter
* Costa Mesa, CA
* 949-722-7387

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CA736.html

Adopt-a-Pet by Leasing Co. State/City
http://www.leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/Adopt_Pet.htm

Adopt a Pet
http://www.adoptapet.com/

News Briefs ---

Would you lease a Christmas tree?
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/christmas-260020-tree-pine.html

AutoChina: A Canadian key drives a Chinese success
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/a-canadian-key-drives-a-chinese-success/article1657769/

Small, midsize U.S. banks need to raise more capital
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073000051.html

Conan O’Brien Sells Duplex for $25 Million
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/realestate/28obrien.html?_r=1&ref=conan_obrien

You May have Missed---

Internet users spending more time on social networks
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_15655431

 

Sports Briefs----

Who is most likely to end up as a Bengal?
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1107815

Stanford Coach gives Insight to the Season
http://stanford.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1108203

 

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Blown budget deadline could cost lawmakers
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/01/blown-budget-deadline-could-cost-lawmakers/

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Argentina Surpasses Chile in U.S. Exports
http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/July-2010/Argentina-Surpasses-Chile-In-US-Exports-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp-nbsp/

Make Your Own Wine in Napa Valley at Judd's Hill's MicroCrush
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/
?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100729006748&newsLang=en

Clinton Vineyards for a Clinton Wedding
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/43263

Free Mobile Wine Program
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2010/2_26.htm#mobile

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

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

Winery Atlas
http://www.carterhouse.com/atlas/\

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

      1769 - Gaspar de Portola, Spanish army captain, and Juan Crespi, a Franciscan priest, after landing in what we now call San Diego, arrived in L.A. He named the area Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula. “ Juan Crespi named the area after a chapel in Italy (“Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula.”
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/portola/portola.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/LosAngel_History.asp
    1776-The Declaration of Independent is signed. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, and as reported July 3, the 56 signers did not sign as a group and did not do so on July 4, 1777. John Hancock and Charles Thompson signed only draft copies that day, the official day the Declaration was adopted by Congress. There also were questions about identifying the signers as the war was not going well, and as a matter of fact, the British did occupy Philadelphia for a short time. This day fifty signed, and later in the year, five more signed separately. One added his name in a subsequent year.
http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.declaration.html
http://www.thedeclarationofindependence.org/
    1832-Sauk followers of Black Hawk were massacred at the mouth of the Bad Axe River in Wisconsin by Illinois militia led by General Henry Atkinson. Old men, women, and children were all killed without regard for pleas of mercy or white flags. The Black Hawk war began on April 6 after the Sauk Indians, led by Black Hawk, faring poorly in Iowa where the government had moved them, re-crossed the Mississippi River and moved back to their former corn fields to plant a new crop. As tensions mounted, panicky settlers killed two Indians seeking a parley and bearing a white flag. Black Hawk, enraged, began killing white settlers. August 27, Black Hawk, deserted by his Winnebago allies, surrendered, thus ending the Black Hawk War.
http://www.riverroads.com/cgi-bin/masterframereunion.cgi?http%3A//
www.riverroads.com/grr/blackhawk.html
http://www.riverroads.com/cgi-bin/masterframereunion.cgi?http%3A//
www.riverroads.com/grr/blackhawk.html
    1846-General Vallejo was released from Fort Sutter, after being arrested and most of his property stolen from many of the settlers who he had helped. A tragic story.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/bio/vallejo.html
    1848-African-American William Leidesdorff founds the first public education school in Portsmith Square, San Francisco. He also built the city's first hotel.
http://www.blackmoney.com/exhibit/pages/panel2.htm
http://www.co.broward.fl.us/lii13005.html
    1858 - The first mailboxes were installed along the streets of Boston and New York City. The idea of mailboxes began in Belgium in 1848. Mail was delivered twice a day, except in rural areas, phased out in certain areas starting in the 1960's.
    1865- August 2, Wild Bill Hickok, a skilled gunman with a formidable reputation, was eking out a living as a professional gambler in Springfield, Illinois. He quarreled with Dave Tutt, a former Union soldier, but it is unclear what caused the dispute. Whatever the cause, rather than fight it out immediately, as typically occurred, the two men agreed to a duel the following day. The showdown took place at 6:00 the next evening. A crowd of onlookers watched as Hickok and Tutt confronted each other from opposite sides of the town square. When Tutt was about 75 yards away, Hickok shouted, "Don't come any closer, Dave." Tutt nervously drew his revolver and fired a shot that went wild. Hickok, by contrast, remained cool. He steadied his own revolver in his left hand and shot Tutt dead with a bullet through the chest. Having adhered to the code of the West, Hickok was acquitted of manslaughter charges. Eleven years later, however, Hickok died in a fashion far more typical of the violence of the day: a young gunslinger shot him in the back of the head while he played cards. Hickok was holding a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights, now well known as a “Dead Man's Hand.”
http://www.beauproductions.com/wildbillhickok/
http://njnj.essortment.com/whowildbillhi_rgvu.htm
http://www.historybuff.com/library/refhickok.html
    1873-First trial run of the San Francisco cable car, Clay Street between Kearny & Jones .
http://www.americahurrah.com/images/CCdummy.jpg
http://www.americahurrah.com/images/CCcalifornia.jpg
http://www.americahurrah.com/Postcards/SFCC1.html
http://www.americahurrah.com/images/CCcalterminus.jpg
http://web.presby.edu/~jtbell/transit/SanFrancisco/CableCar/1893Map.gif
http://web.presby.edu/~jtbell/transit/SanFrancisco/CableCar/1906Map.gif
Castro Line abandoned 1939:
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist8/castrocar.html
Mayor Lapham in 1949 closed down more lines, for a full history:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3518/html/ccsffch.html
Today: http://cable-car.visit-san-francisco.com/
    1876 - Wild Bill (James Butler) Hickok was gunned down by Jack McCall, a desperado from Texas, in Saloon #10 at Deadwood, in the Dakota Territory. Hickok was playing poker (with his back to the door) at the time of the shooting. McCall shot Wild Bill in the back, and was hanged for the shooting, never revealing his motive. The poker hand Hickok was holding when he died consisted of a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. This combination became known as the dead man's hand.
http://members.aol.com/J0KERtm/Doomtown/Deadman.html
http://www.sodbuster.com/Politics/POL080597JM.htm
http://www.mountaintraditions.com/Wild_Bill_Hickok.html
    1896—Trumpet player Anatie “ Natty” Dominique Birthday
http://atj.8k.com/noartist/atjdominique.html
   1896--Birthday of Sarah Tilghman Hughes - U.S. jurist and woman's rights advocate. A federal district judge from Texas, she became the first and only woman to administer the oath of office to a president of the United States, swearing in Lyndon Johnson on Air Force One in Dallas, Texas, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. She served in the Texas State Legislature 1931-35 where she framed and helped pass provisions for child support while a divorce was pending. She was voted one of the Texas legislature's most valuable members. To get her education, she qualified for a four-year scholarship to Goucher (no mean feat) and then supported herself as a Washington, D.C., police officer while she studied law.
    1900-birthday of Helen Morgan - U.S. vocalist. HM was the sensational American "torch" singer of the speakeasies and of Broadway and the movies. She introduced such song- standards as "Bill," "Can't Help Loving that Man," and "Why Was I Born?" “The Helen Morgan Story” was made about her life starring Ann Blyth and Paul Newman.
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0050494/
    1905-Birthday of Myrna Loy - U.S. actor and activist. Best known in the movies for her portrayal of the unflappable Nora Charles in the Thin Man series. She stopped making movies during World War II to work for the Red Cross.
    1909- First Lincoln head penny
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/2453/hpenny.html
    1914-Birthday of Felix Leclerc, perhaps one of the greatest French language singers and songwriters that Quebec has produced, born in La Tuque. Several of his songs - "Le P'tit Bonheur," "Le Train du Nord" and "Bozo" - became popular in Quebec in the late 1940's. In 1950, Leclerc went to Paris where he soon became a superstar. He subsequently divided his time between Europe and Canada. Leclerc was awarded France's Grand Prix du disque in 1951 for his song, "Moi, mes souliers." Leclerc won the award twice more - in 1958 and in 1973. He is credited with revitalizing the popular song in France. Felix Leclerc died on August 8, 1988 at the age of 74.
    1920- Marcus Garvey presented his "Back To Africa" program in New York City.
http://www.triadntr.net/~rdavis/garvey.htm
http://www.mountaintraditions.com/Wild_Bill_Hickok.html
http://www.isop.ucla.edu/mgpp/photo01.htm
    1921-- With the jurors lifting the men onto their shoulders, the eight White Sox players accused of throwing the 1919 World Series are acquitted by the jury. The next day, Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis will say the overwhelming evidence clearly shows the Black Sox fixed the games with gamblers and all involved will be banned from playing professional baseball again.
    1922-Birthday of saxophonist Big Nick Nicolas, Lansing, MI
    1923-Birthday of vocalist Bixie Crawford, Oklahoma City, OK.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicHall/2651/BASIE/DISCOGRAPHY/
americans_in_sweden2.html
    1923-President Warren G. Harding died in office. For the first time since Zachary Taylor's death in 1850, a president of the United States died in office of natural causes. Pres. Warren G. Harding was in poor health. His reputation was in decline because friends he had appointed to federal office had proven corrupt or incompetent. Scandals were about to break all around him. To get away from the unpleasantness, Harding began a tour June 20 of the West and Alaska. He took ill on the return journey. Accompanied by his wife, he didn't trust him, but who also wanted to cure him, she had obtained a “electrical box”( later to be proven a hoax, but very popular in its day as the inventor was a well-known Physician, to help cure him.) He evidently had early heart disease, not known in its day, and was an over-eater, drinker, and well-known womanizer. Here in San Francisco at the Sheraton Palace Hotel, he died at 58 of an embolism while recovering form an attack of ptomaine poisoning and pneumonia. There were rumors of foul play at the time. At 2:43am on August 3, Vice-President Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as president by his father, a notary public, in the family home in Plymouth Vermont. Harding was buried at Marion, Ohio on August 10. In a further bit of trivia, if you will, his wife Florence Kling De Wolfe Harding died on November 21, 1924, in Marion, Ohio, thereby creating the historical event to be the first president and first Lady to die during the term for which he had been elected ( March 4,1921-March 3,1925).
    1924- birthday of James Arthur Baldwin, African- American author noted for descriptions of black life in the US. Born at New York, NY. His best-known work, “Go Tell It on the Mountain, “was published in 1953. He wrote many social commentary articles and was a leader of the movement in his day. Died at Saint PauI-de-Vence, France, Nov 30,1987.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug02.html
http://www.founders.howard.edu/Commencement2000/Baldwin_JamesA.htm
http://www.uic.edu/depts/quic/history/james_baldwin.html
http://www.americanwriters.org/writers/baldwin.asp
    1924-Birthday of Carroll O'Connor, television, stage and screen actor born in New York, NY. He was best-known for his portrayal of the bigoted, blue-collar Archie Bunker on “All in the Family.” He played the role of Bunker from 1971 to 1979, and was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning four. He won a fifth Emmy in 1989 for “ In the Heat of the Night.” He was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989. He died in Culver City, CA on June 21, 2001.
    1924-Birthday of pianist Joe Harnell, whose "Fly Me to the Moon" was a top-20 hit in 1963.
http://www.joeharnell.com/bio.html
    1926 - The first demonstration of the Vitaphone system, that combined picture and sound for movies, was held at the Warner Theatre in New York City. John Barrymore and Mary Astor starred in the demonstration film for the new moving picture projector.
    1929-Fats Waller records “ Ain't Misbehavin'” ( Victor 22092)
    1937 - Benny Goodman and his quartet (Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, and Gene Krupa recorded "Smiles" for Victor Records. Goodman was the first “white” bandleader to feature black musicians.
    1937- Birthday of Garth Hudson, organist with “The Band”, born in London, Ontario. The Band began as The Hawks, the group that backed rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins from about 1959 until 1963. The Hawks then split from Hawkins, moved to the US and in 1965 became the back-up band for Bob Dylan. The Band also pursued a recording career of their own, beginning with the album "Music From the Big Pink" in 1968. The Band remained together until November 1976, when they played a final concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The event was filmed by director Martin Scorsese, and released as "The Last Waltz."
http://www.rhino.com/Hotpress/78278pr.html
    1938-The Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals played a doubleheader in which they experimented with a yellow baseball in the first game. They went back to the traditional white ball for the second game, and the Dodgers won both contests, 6-2 and 9-3.
    1939- Albert Einstein, world-famous scientist, a refugee from Nazi Germany, wrote a letter to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, first mentioning a possible “new phenomenon ... chain reactions . . vast amounts of power.” “A single bomb of this type,” he wrote, “carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory.” Six years and four days later, Aug 6,1945, the Japanese port of Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atomic bombing of a populated place.
1943 - Lieutenant (j.g.) John F. Kennedy "PT 109" was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer "Amigiri". Kennedy suffered a back injury that plagued him for the rest of his life. The story of the "PT 109" was told in Hollywood style in the 1963 movie, "PT 109", starring Cliff Robertson as JFK. There is another version that the crew was asleep and rammed by the destroyer. Recently discovered, it is not considered a “landmark” and the PT 109 will not be brought to the surface.
    1944-birthday of bassist Albert Stinson.
http://charlotte.acns.nwu.edu/larryt/miles/sessionography/1967/67Apr07.html
    1945---Top Hits
The More I See You - Dick Haymes
Dream - The Pied Pipers
Sentimental Journey - The Les Brown Orchestra (vocal: Doris Day)
Oklahoma Hills - Jack Guthrie
    1945-Birthday of percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, Brazil
http://www.ejn.it/mus/vasconce.htm
    1952-Five American boxers won gold medals at the summer Olympics in He3lsinki,Finland, giving the US the unofficial team championships for the first time. The gold medalists were flyweight Nate Brooks, light welterweight Charley Adkins, middleweight Floyd Patterson, light heavyweight Norvell Lee and heavyweight Eddie Sanders.
    1953---Top Hits
I'm Walking Behind You - Eddie Fisher
No Other Love - Perry Como
Ruby - Richard Hayman
Rub-A-Dub-Dub - Hank Thompson
    1956-The US Virgin Island, including areas on St. John and St. Thomas, were established as a national park and preserve. On October 5, 1962, he enlarged to include offshore areas, including coral reefs, shorelines and sea grass beds.
    1956-Look Magazine reports that Elvis Presley records have grossed over $6 million and that the singer receives over 3,000 fan letters a week
    1960 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," Brian Hyland. The song is a true story inspired by songwriter Paul Vance's two-year-old daughter.
    1961---Top Hits
Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
I Like It Like That - Chris Kenner
Dum Dum - Brenda Lee
Heartbreak U.S.A. - Kitty Wells
    1961-The Beatles begin their engagement as regular headliners at Liverpool's Cavern Club, where they'll perform about 300 times in the next two years.
    1963--- Still rebuilding his career after the scandal of his marriage to 13-year-old second cousin Myra Gale Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis accepts $9,500 to open Las Vegas' new Thunderbird Hotel.
    1965-CBS Morley Safer's sends first Vietnam report indicating we are losing.
    1969---Top Hits
In the Year 2525 - Zager & Evans
Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James & The Shondells
What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Johnny B. Goode - Buck Owens
    1969-Bob Dylan shows up unexpectedly to his 10-year high school reunion in Hibbing, Minnesota. He and his wife leave early when a drunk tried to pick a fight with him.
    1971 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," The Bee Gees. The song is the first of nine No. 1 singles for the Gibb brothers.
    1973 - Rick DeMont captured the 400-meter freestyle event in 4 minutes, 2.9 seconds at the Los Angeles Invitational Swim Meet.
    1975- "One Of These Nights" by the Eagles hits #1 on the pop chart, while Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Saturday Night Special" peaks at #27
    1975- Billy Martin named manager of NY Yankees (1st time.)
    1975- "One Of These Nights" by the Eagles hits #1 on the pop chart, while Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Saturday Night Special" peaks at #27.
    1975 - Record heat gripped New England. Highs of 104 degrees at Providence, RI, and 107 degrees at Chester and New Bedford, MA, established state records. The heat along the coast of Maine was unprecedented, with afternoon highs of 101 degrees at Bar Harbor and 104 degrees at Jonesboro.Hot weather continued in the central U.S. Fifteen cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including Concordia KS with a reading of 106 degrees, and Downtown Kansas City, MO, with a high of 105 degrees. Evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in the Ohio Valley and the north central U.S. Thunder- storms in South Dakota produced wind gusts to 70 mph at Philip, and hail two inches in diameter at Faulkton.
    1979 -Gilda Radner Live From New York opens on Broadway.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/gildaradner/GildaRadnersPlace.html
http://www.allsands.com/Entertainment/People/gildaradnerbi_zvu_gn.htm
http://www.gildasclub.org/
    1977---Top Hits
I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
I'm in You - Peter Frampton
My Heart Belongs to Me - Barbra Streisand
It was Almost like a Song - Ronnie Milsap
    1981 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Jessie's Girl," Rick Springfield. The song wins Springfield a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
    1984 - Charles Schulz' award-winning comic strip was picked up by the "Daily Times" in Portsmouth, OH. With the addition of that paper, "Peanuts", featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Pigpen, Linus, Peppermint Pattie, Woodstock and the gang, became the first comic strip to appear in 2,000 newspapers.
    1985---Top Hits
Everytime You Go Away - Paul Young
Shout - Tears For Fears
You Give Good Love - Whitney Houston
Love Don't Care (Whose Heart It Breaks) - Earl Thomas Conley
    1986 -Jackie Joyner-Kersee (US) sets record for heptathlon (7161 pts).
http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/joyner_j.htm
http://www.davison.k12.mi.us/dms/projects/women/ajoyner.htm
http://www.sportsstarsusa.com/olympians/joyner-kersee_jackie.html
    1987 -Michael Andretti runs fastest Indy car race in history (171.49 MPH)
    1987 - The 50-year-old Walt Disney movie classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", was re-released. The film was the most popular animated film in motion picture history. It grossed almost $20 million in its first two weeks of re-release.
    1987- Fans at a Billy Joel concert in Leningrad jumped up and down on their seats, breaking about 200 chairs. Members of the audience carried Joel out on their shoulders at the conclusion of his performance. Joel's manager said the singer would either pay for the damage or leave behind 500 folding chairs he brought with him to help accommodate overflow audiences on his Soviet tour. Audience members carry Joel out on their shoulders at the end.
    1987-Hot weather continued in the central U.S. Fifteen cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including Concordia KS with a reading of 106 degrees, and Downtown Kansas City, MO, with a high of 105 degrees. Evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in the Ohio Valley and the north central U.S. Thunder- storms in South Dakota produced wind gusts to 70 mph at Philip, and hail two inches in diameter at Faulkton.
    1988 - Searing heat continued from the Middle and Upper Mississippi Valley to the Middle and Northern Atlantic Coast States. Twenty- six cities reported record high temperatures for the date. Chicago IL reported a record seven days of 100 degree heat for the year
    1989- Reds' outfielder Eric Davis becomes the seventh player to join the 30-30 club as he homers in the 5-4 victory over the Giants. No one had ever accomplished the feat with still nearly two months left to play in the season.
    1990-On President Saddam Hussein's orders, the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait. Hussein claimed that Kuwait presented a serious threat to Iraq's economic existence by overproducing oil and driving prices down on the world market. After conquering the capital, Kuwait City, Hussein installed a military government in Kuwait, prior to annexing it to Iraq on the claim that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq. The US and most other nations immediately condemned the aggression and the UN passed measures calling for broad economic sanctions against Iraq. As Iraqi forces began to mass along the border with Saudi Arabia, the US and other nations sent troops to Saudi Arabia to protect that country from invasion with an operation named Desert Shield. The multinational force included troops from other Arab countries such as Egypt, Syria and Morocco in addition to forces from Western governments with large economic interests in the region. Approximately 21,000 foreign nationals from several countries were detained by Iraq and were transported to various strategic locations to deter possible retaliatory attacks. The US military action was the largest mobilization of forces since the Vietnam War. The following January Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm as the Allied forces went to war against Iraq.
    1995-- Long time coach Jimmie Reese, whose 23 years in an Angels uniform equals longest in club history is inducted into the Angels' Hall of Fame. The former roommate of Babe Ruth began his career as a batboy for the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels in 1917.

Baseball Poem

 

SHORTSTOP by Charles Ghigna ©

Published: Boyd Mills Press (2003)

The slits of his eyes hidden in shadows beneath the bill of his cap, he watches and waits like a patient cat to catch what comes his way. Crack! and he pounces upon the ball, his hands flying above the grass, flinging his prey on its way across the diamond into a double-play.