Raymond Wesley "Skip" Florea II Passes Away

"A good friend, passed a few days ago. He was a great equipment finance/leasing executive with experience in both sales and credit. He worked for me at Newcourt out of Indianapolis , mainly in the transportation side. He worked for us at Newcourt from 1995 to 2001. Always a smile, kind word and the correct answer.

"He ended up a VP in the Transportation Group. I know they did lease/finance at Star as talked to him about it three weeks ago or so. Damn shame."

James Alan Misener

Obituary

January 22, 1960 - February 10, 2013
Carmel, Indiana

Raymond "Skip" Florea, 53, of Noblesville, passed on Sunday, February 10, 2013. He was born January 22, 1960, in Kokomo and grew up in Elwood. He was the son of Mary Helen (Hunsinger) Florea of Greentown and the late Raymond W. Florea. Skip married Jackie Mangas-Florea in 1983 and was the proud father of their children Marley and Jack.

Skip worked in several capacities for STAR Financial Bank and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer and Portfolio Manager. Prior to serving in this role, he was Regional President in Kokomo and a Senior Commercial Banker in Marion.

Skip was a loving and devoted husband who cherished his wife, he was a proud father, a trusted colleague, a dutiful son, an admired brother, a valued friend, and possessed a compassionate heart. He always took care of others, thinking he never did enough, but he was wrong. In addition to spending time at the lake with his family, Skip enjoyed landscaping and golf. He had a keen interest in many things including history, trains and aeronautics

Skip is survived by his wife, Jackie Mangas-Florea; daughter Marley (Nathan) Carden, Nappanee; son Jack Florea, Noblesville; mother, Mary Helen Florea, Greentown: sisters JoAnn (John) Acres, Corvallis, Oregon and Bobbie (Bruce) Alspaugh, Middletown; brother Richard (DeeAnn) Florea, Granger; mother-in-law, Georgia Ernst, Syracuse; sisters-in-law Teddi (Ed) Mangas-Coon, Anderson and Anne (Bill) Mangas-Smith, Seabrook, Texas; Koumbaros Demetrios (Christine) Skalkotos, Short Hills, New Jersey; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. And Buster.

Skip was a member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or the Ladies Philoptochos Society, both at 3500 W. 106th Street, Carmel, IN 46032.

Funeral services will be held at the Church Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Skip's uncle, Fr. Dean Gigicos officiating. Burial will follow in Elwood.

http://flannerbuchanan.tributes.com/condolences/leave_memory/95240874

Classified Ads---Collections

(These ads are “free” to those seeking employment
or looking to improve their position)

Long Grove, Illinois 17+ years Comdisco, accounts receivable, collections, customer service, plus senior management, seeking full time or part time assignment. 847-359-4066roborgaard@aol.com | Resume

Port St Lucie, FL 20+ yrs exp. commercial collection/late stage specialist.  Prefer to work from home based office or transfer to Sarasota areamichaelgalan@comcast.net | Resume

Free Posting for those seeking employment in Leasing:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted-post.htm

All “free” categories “job wanted” ads:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Jwanted/Jwanted.htm

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

Linedata Agrees to Acquire CapitalStream

Significantly strengthening its Position in North America
and the Credit and Finance industry

PARIS: Linedata (NYSE Euronext: LIN) has agreed to acquire HCL Technologies' CapitalStream business and enter into a strategic partnership with HCL Technologies Ltd. The transaction is expected to close before the end of Q1 2013.

Linedata is one of the leading providers of software and services to the credit and financing industries in Europe and Africa. Linedata has also developed a significant presence in North America in the asset management area.

Anvaraly Jiva, Founder and CEO of Linedata

"I am very pleased to welcome this highly talented team and prestigious client base to Linedata,” said Anvaraly Jiva, Founder and CEO of Linedata. “This acquisition will extend our ability to provide end-to-end solutions to the credit and finance industry globally. The partnership with HCL will substantially improve our ability to engage in very large projects with our clients. Linedata's presence in North America, a key to our global growth, will be significantly expanded".

Acquisition of CapitalStream

CapitalStream is a market leading software platform that offers a sophisticated suite of credit lifecycle management solutions to the financial services industry. It has a fast-growing client portfolio of prestigious banking and other financial institutions in North America. Revenues for their last financial year ending June 2012, expressed in U.S. GAAP, amounted to $ 30 million. The Company employs approximately hundred employees in the USA (Seattle, WA & Irvine, CA)

As part of the acquisition, Linedata would acquire all the assets and associated liabilities for a sum of $45 million. The transaction will be financed by an extension of an existing bank loan with a pool of banks. Following the transaction, debt ratios will remain at a reasonable level and the leverage ratio (net debt post-closing / consolidated EBITDA) will be less than 2.

This combination will enable Linedata to offer a uniquely powerful and comprehensive set of applications for North America and the global marketplace.

HCL Technologies, the long standing owner of CapitalStream, is a leading global technology and IT services company. This agreement reflects HCL's core strategy of joining hands with product companies to offer transformational services to its clients. Through this partnership, Linedata will be able to reinforce its services offering to support CapitalStream clients in all of their major IT projects.

ABOUT LINEDATA
Linedata is a global solutions provider with 700 clients operating in 50 countries. With more than 900 employees across the globe, Linedata is dedicated to the investment management and credit community. Linedata has been at the service of the financial industry from day one, and applies its market and client insight to provide innovative and tailored mission-critical software and services that help its clients grow. As a pioneer for over 10 years with the set-up of SaaS infrastructure for the financial industry, Linedata has preached and spread this model throughout the global financial community, for its full range of products. Headquartered in France, Linedata achieved revenues of EUR 144 million in 2012. This company is listed on Euronext Paris FR0004156297-LIN - Reuters LDSV.LN - Bloomberg LIN:FP.

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

 

Mr. Terry Winders available as a consultant regarding assisting attorneys in resolving disputes or explaining procedures or reviewing documents as utilized in the finance and leasing industry. He is the author of several books, including DVD's, as well as weekly columnist to Leasing News. He also performs audits of leasing companies as an expert on documentation, and has acted as an expert witness on leasing for litigation in legal and tax disputes, including before the IRS. He also has taught the senior bank examiners, how to review a bank leasing department, for the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. and has trained the examiners for the FDIC on how to prepare a lease portfolio for sale. 502.649.0488/Leaseconsulting@msn.com

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

 

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TFC Equipment Finance Up-Dates "Funder A" List

TCF Equipment Finance 1999 Phone: 800.442.7811 Fax: 952.656.3274 EMail:  sales@tcfef.com www.tcfef.com ELFA (D)

200+

Nationwide

$15,000 up to $20MM

BBB CNI Search

Y

Y  in CA

N

Y

Y

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed | C -Sub-Broker Program | D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

VGM Financial Services (subsidiary TCF Equipment Finance) 1991 www.vgmfs.com/contact.asp www.vgmfs.com (NN)

50

USA

N/R

BBB Search

N/R

N/R

N/R

N/R

N/R

A -Accepts Broker Business | B -Requires Broker be Licensed  | C -Sub-Broker Program | D -"Private label Program" | E - Also "in house" salesmen

Full "Funder A" List:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/Funders.htm

 

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New Hires---Promotions

Tracey Rogers has been hired by ATEL Leasing as director of Syndications and Operations for Kalakane Capital, an affiliate of ATEL Leasing. Previously she was director of financial institution partnerships, Rainbow reward Holdings (2012), vp-business development, Western Funding Associates (2009-2012), director-capital markets, Summit funding Group (May, 2011-September, 2009), director-capital markets, Onmark Corporation (2000-2001),director-capital markets (Capital Associates (1997-2000), manager-structured finance Transamerica Leasing (1996-1997), pricing analyst, GE Capital (1994-1996). University of Denver, MBA, Finance and Financial Management Services.
www.linkedin.com/pub/tracey-rogers/40/701/9a6

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted  

Los Angeles, CA Credit Analyst  Review and Approve Applications/Vendors Documentation/Funding Staff  Leasing/Banking experience a plus Sales Experience preferred. Salary, Commission Bonuses and Benefits. For more description of duties, please click on position www.pacificcapco.com At Pacific Capital Companies our mission is to provide the American business sector with fast, innovative, financing solutions to grow their companies and exceed their goals.

 

 

Seeking career minded business development officer- leasing experience helpful Grow with us as we expand our business lending & leasing Call Exec. VP Salvatore Venuto 515-576-9000 x1704 or email: SVenuto@macrolease.com Since 1969, Macrolease has been operating as a full service national equipment leasing company, a subsidiary of Bank Rhode Island

  

For information on placing a help wanted ad, please click here:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Classified/Hwanted/Hwanted-post.htm

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Leasing Companies Out of Business
plus No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business

Companies with an * are no longer in business. The others are companies that were taking broker business, but announced that they no longer are accepting broker business. Many have also down-sized or are managing an existing portfolio.

More details are available in this list by company name:

http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm

*ABCO Leasing Inc., Bothell, WA
*ACC Capital, Midvale, Utah (lenders running off portfolio residuals)
Advantage Business Capital, Lake Oswego, Oregon
AEL Financial, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
(No longer taking new broker business) 
Alliance Financial, Syracuse, New York
*Alternative Capital, Apollo Beach, Florida 
*AMC Funding, Charlotte, North Carolina
American Bank Leasing, Alpharetta, Georgia
*American Equipment Finance, Warren, New Jersey
Balboa Capital, Irvine, Ca
Bank of the West Leasing Indirect, San Ramon, California
    (Require high volume, successful brokers only) 
*Bank Midwest Leasing, Overland Park, KS 
Bankers Healthcare Group, Weston, FL
*CapNet, Los Angeles, California 
*C and J Leasing Corp, Des Moines, Iowa
*Carlton Financial Corporation, Wayzata, Minnesota
*Chase Industries, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan 
*Chesterfield Financial, Chesterfield, Missouri
CHG-MERIDIAN U.S. Finance, Ltd, Woodland Hills, CA
(Sales Management focuses very selectively on certain brokers.) 
*Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY
CIT Group (limited)
Columbia Bank Leasing, Tacoma, WA
*Columbia Equipment Finance, Danville, California 
Commercial Equipment Lease, Eugene, Oregon 
Concord Financial Services, Long Beach, California
Court Square, Malvern, Pennsylvania
*Creative Capital Leasing Group, LLC, San Diego, CA
Direct Capital, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Diversified Financial Service, Omaha, NE
Dolsen Leasing, Bellevue/Yakima, Washington
Equipment Finance Partners, a division of Altec, Birmingham, Alabama 
Evans National Leasing, Inc., Hamburg, NY
Enterprise Funding, Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Evergreen Leasing, South Elgin, Illinois
*Excel Financial Leasing, Lubbock Texas
*First Corp.(IFC subsidiary), Morton Grove, Illinois
First Federal Financial Services, Inc., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
First Republic Bank, San Francisco, CA
Frontier Capital, Teaneck New Jersey 
*GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida 
GE Capital, Conn (limited)
Global Funding LLC., Clearwater, FL
*Greystone, Burlington, MA
*Heritage Pacific Leasing, Fresno, CA
*Hillcrest Bank Leasing, Overland Park, KS (Parent bank sold)
Huntington Equipment Finance, Vendor Finance Group, Bellevue, Washington
*IFC Credit Corp., Morton Grove, Illinois
Irwin Financial (Irwin Union Bank), Columbus, Indiana 
Irwin Union Bank, F.S.B. (Louisville, Kentucky)
Lakeland Bank, Montville, NJ
LaSalle Systems Leasing
*Latitude Equipment Leasing, Marlton, New Jersey 
*Leaf Specialty Finance, Columbia, South Carolina
*LEAF Third Party Funding, Santa Barbara, Ca.
Lombard, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, worldwide
Marlin Business Services, Mount Laurel, NJ (accepting no new brokers, they may have opened for a select fee, but no more at this time, they say.)
M&T Credit (Bank)
*MericapCredit, Lisle, Illinois
Merrill Lynch Financial
*Mesa Leasing, San Diego, CA 
Midwest Leasing Group, Livonia, Minnesota
National City, Cleveland, Ohio
*Navigator (Pentech subsidiary) San Diego, California
OFC Capital, Roswell, Georgia
Old National Bank, Evansville, Illinois
Pentech Financial, Campbell, CA
*PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA
Pinnacle Business Finance, Fife, Washington
*Pioneer Capital Corporation, Addison, Texas
PredictiFund, a subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc
Popular Finance, St. Louis, Missouri
Puget Sound Leasing, Seattle, Washington 
Radiance-Capital, Tacoma, WA
Rational Technology Solutions, Rolling Meadows, IL
*Reliant National Finance, Jacksonville, Florida
Sandy Springs, Olney, MD
Sovereign Bank, Melville, New York
Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, NM
*Studebaker-Worthington Leasing, Corp., Jerico, NY
(part of sale from Main Street Bank to Ascentium Capital) 
Sun Trust Equipment Finance & Leasing, Baltimore, Maryland 
*SunBridge Capital, Mission, Kansas
Suncoast Equipment Funding Corp., Tampa, Florida
TCF Equipment Finance, Minnetonka, Minnesota 
TechLease, Morgan Hill, California
*Tennessee Commerce Bank, Franklin, Tennessee 
Textron Financial
*Triad Leasing & Financial, Inc., Boise, Idaho
*TriStar Capital, Santa Ana, California 
*Union Capital Partners, Midvale, Utah
US Bank, Manifest Funding, Marshall, Minnesota
(new requirement: large yearly funding) 
US Bank, Middle-Market, Portland, Oregon 
Velocity Financial Group, Rosemont, Illinois
VenCore, Portland, Oregon (former company Len Ludwig)
*Vision Capital, San Diego, California
Wachovia Bank Leasing
*Washington Mutual Financial
Western Bank, Devils Lake, ND
*Westover Financial, Inc., Santa Ana, California

(Note: Should a company policy have changed, please contact kitmenkin@leasingnews.org)

Funders looking for new Brokers:
http://www.leasingnews.org/Funders_Only/New_Broker.htm

 

 

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Failed banks: Class of 2013
By Aarti Kanjani and Robert Clark
SNL Financial

Regulators did not close any banks Friday, Feb. 8, keeping the year's total number of failures at two. In 2012, regulators had closed nine banks through Feb. 10.

As of Feb. 8, the two bank failures thus far in 2013 did not involve a loss-share agreement. In 2012, the FDIC entered loss-share agreements with the buyers of 20 of the 51 closed banks. In 2011, the FDIC entered loss-share agreements with the buyers of 58 of the 92 closed banks.

Andover, Minn.-based 1st Regents Bank ($50.2 million)

The bank was established in 2001 and had its sole branch in Minnesota. The FDIC issued the bank a consent order in March 2010. As of Sept. 30, 2012, its equity capital fell to $924,000 and its Texas ratio was 612.51%.

University Place, Wash.-based Westside Community Bank ($97.7 million)

Westside Community operated two branches in the Tacoma, Wash., area. The bank had previously agreed to sell the company to a group of investors for $5.7 million in August 2012. The FDIC issued a prompt corrective action directive to Westside Community in June 2012. As of Sept. 30, 2012, 32.50% of the bank's assets were nonperforming.

The median cost to the deposit insurance fund at the time of announcement as a percentage of the failed banks' assets was 22% in 2013, 21% in 2012 and 23% in 2011.

 

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Stress Release program to use on your computer

Stress Relief---

You have two options for this software program:

First option is OPEN the file without saving it. You can see how this works, then decide if you want to “save” and have it as an executable file.

In the open mode, it works, but once you exit, the application is no longer available. You have to install it each time you want to use it.

The second option is to “SAVE “the “.EXE” on to your computer. You will have the application available to use any time, until you decide to delete the program.

http://www.leasingnews.org/EXE/StressRelief.EXE

Note: Hit the Esc to quit the application in either option.

 

 

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

On Deck Secures $42 MM Series D Financing
Led by Institutional Venture Partners

Funding to Fuel Accelerated Growth, Technology Innovation and Marketing Initiatives Aimed at Delivering More Capital to Main Street

(New York, NY) – On Deck (www.ondeckcapital.com), the technology-powered Main Street lender, announced today that it has raised $42 million in Series D growth financing led by new investor, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). Existing On Deck investors RRE Ventures, SAP Ventures and First Round Capital also participated in the oversubscribed round. The financing will enable the company to further accelerate growth through: continued technology innovation; breakthrough new product development; increased marketing to reach more small business owners; and expanded access to wholesale funding sources. Collectively these efforts will bolster On Deck’s ability to connect Main Street businesses around the country with the capital they need.

On Deck’s innovative technology platform is a transformative solution to America’s small and medium sized business lending challenges. The company has successfully deployed $400 million directly to thousands of small and medium sized businesses that make up the growth engine of our economy. The latest funding round follows a year of record performance and the achievement of numerous milestones. In 2012, On Deck doubled its business, raised nearly $100 million in credit facility commitments jointly led by Goldman Sachs and Fortress Investment Group, tripled the number of distribution partners to 1,500 nationwide, expanded its bank partnerships and increased its industry coverage to over 700 vertical markets, serving essentially all types of Main Street businesses.

In conjunction with the financing, On Deck also announced that IVP General Partner, Sandy Miller, has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors. Sandy has an extensive investor track record across numerous industries, leading investments in AddThis, Care.com, Fleetmatics, ngmoco, One Kings Lane, Vonage and Zynga.

Noah Breslow
CEO, On Deck

“On Deck will provide more capital to small businesses in 2013 than it did during the previous five years in total. This investment provides On Deck with greater capacity and resources to bring technology-enabled finance to the mainstream of the American small business market,” said Noah Breslow, chief executive officer, On Deck. “We were attracted to IVP’s 33-year track record of collaborating with pioneering technology companies, as well as Sandy’s personal involvement with over 100 technology IPOs. We are thrilled to have Sandy and the entire IVP team supporting our next phase of growth.”

Sandy Miller
IVP General Partner

“Led by an experienced and cohesive management team, On Deck has developed a unique and differentiated technology platform to streamline the borrowing process so that small and medium sized business owners can get approved for the capital they need in a matter of minutes," IVP General Partner Sandy Miller said." We are very excited that our investment in On Deck is the first from our new fund, IVP XIV.”

Eric Liaw
Principal

“Small and medium sized businesses are the lifeblood of the US economy and we are in an environment where 84% of SMBs looking for financing report having unmet financing needs,” said Eric Liaw, principal at IVP. “IVP is excited to partner with On Deck to help provide thousands of small and medium sized business owners with the capital they need to invest in their operations, grow their businesses, and create new jobs.”

To continue to manage its explosive growth, On Deck recently opened regional offices in Atlanta, Sarasota, Chicago and Los Angeles. In 2013, the company will open a western region office in Denver, and move into larger office spaces for its New York City headquarters and Arlington, VA offices.

Victory Park Securities acted as financial advisor to On Deck.

About On Deck
Launched in 2007, On Deck uses data aggregation and electronic payment technology to evaluate the financial health of small and medium sized businesses and efficiently deliver capital to a market underserved by banks. Through the On Deck platform, millions of small businesses can obtain affordable loans with a fraction of the time and effort that it takes through traditional channels. The company’s proprietary credit models look deeper into the health of businesses, focusing on overall business performance, rather than the owner’s personal credit history. The On Deck system also provides a critically needed mechanism for financial institutions and other business service providers to efficiently reach the Main Street small business market.

On Deck is financed by some of the nation's leading venture capital firms, including SAP Ventures, Contour Venture Partners, First Round Capital, Khosla Ventures, RRE Ventures, Village Ventures and Institutional Venture Partners. For more information, please visit: www.ondeckcapital.com.

About Institutional Venture Partners (IVP)
With $4 billion of committed capital, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) is one of the premier later-stage venture capital and growth equity firms in the United States. Founded in 1980, IVP has invested in over 300 companies, 93 of which have gone public. IVP is one of the top performing firms in the industry and has a 32-year IRR of 43.2%. IVP specializes in venture growth investments, industry rollups, founder liquidity transactions and select public market investments. Since its inception, IVP investments include such notable companies as ArcSight (HPQ), Buddy Media (CRM), ComScore (SCOR), Concur Technologies (CNQR), Dropbox, Fleetmatics (FLTX), HomeAway (AWAY), Juniper Networks (JNPR), Kayak (KYAK), LegalZoom, LifeLock (LOCK), Marketo, MySQL (ORCL), Netflix (NFLX), Polycom (PLCM), Seagate (STX), Shazam, Synchronoss (SNCR), Tivo (TIVO), Twitter and Zynga (ZNGA). For more information, visit http://ivp.com or follow IVP on Twitter: @ivp

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

United Leasing Inc. Secures Credit Facility with Chase Bank

Evansville, IN – Martha Ahlers, Chief Operating Officer of United Leasing, Inc. (ULI), has announced the closing of a $195 million with an accordion to $300 million, multi-year, senior secured revolving credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and a syndication of lending institutions including US Bank, Bank of America, BB&T, Fifth Third Bank, Northern Trust and Huntington National Bank. ULI will use this multi-million dollar facility to further fund its continued growth plans.

Rick Schulz
CFO, United Companies

“The renewal and expansion of our revolving credit facility demonstrates the continued support of our company’s business model by our bank group," Rick Schulz, CFO of United Leasing, Inc.’s parent company, United Companies, stated. "The addition of two new lenders to our syndicate along with increased commitments from our existing lenders positions the company well to grow our lease and loan portfolio.”

Founded in 1964, United Companies is a private owned corporation headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. It is comprised of United Leasing, Inc., Professional Transportation, Inc., and the Romain Automotive Group. United Companies has evolved into a multifaceted financial and transportation services organization with more than 3,000 corporate accounts. With over 6,100 associates, United Companies has direct operations in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and manages assets in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. The collective organization is a uniquely different enterprise by its customer focus, innovative financing structures, and superior service, all supported by the reputation and integrity of our people

http://www.unitedevv.com/

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Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services We accept file exports and integrate personal property tax information with all lease management or accounting software. No other firm offers the combination of individual attention, software capabilities expertise, "full disclosure" and web port accessibility to information more than we do.  Click here to learn what our clients say about our service Gary DiLillo, President 440.871.0555 or gary@avptc.com

 

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

Five Sentenced in Tax Refund Schemes

Defendants Filed Fraudulent Tax Returns Claiming
the First-Time Homebuyer Credit

Los Angeles – Five defendants who participated in related schemes to manipulate and defraud the First-Time Homebuyer Credit were sentenced this week and in late January in United States District Court.

Appearing before United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, the five defendants sentenced were:

Tanooa Sparks, 35 of Gardena, was sentenced this morning to 12 months and one day imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of $338,926 to the Internal Revenue Service after pleading guilty in September of 2012 to one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS and two counts of submitting false claims to the IRS;

Nadjara Payne, 26, of Inglewood, was sentenced this afternoon to eight months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of $173,358 to the IRS after pleading guilty in March 2011 to one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS and one count of use of one or more unauthorized access devices, namely debit card account numbers;

Crystal Bennett, 29, of Gardena, was sentenced earlier this week to four months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of $105,353.62 to the IRS after pleading guilty in November 2010 to conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS;

Dontray Greer, 28 of Los Angeles, was sentenced late last month to eight months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of $155,000 to the IRS after pleading guilty in March 2011 to conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS and possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices; and

Gina Smith, 45, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was setenced late last month to three years’ probation, including six months home detention, and ordered to pay restitution of $77,253 to the IRS after pleading guilty in November 2010 to conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS.

Most documents were filed with the court under seal, however according to a sentencing memorandum filed by the defense for Greer, Greer and others used their own personal identifying information and/or that of others to file 2008 tax returns that falsely claimed the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. The resulting tax return payments were then directed into bank accounts or onto VISA debit cards controlled by the defendants.

Greer, and others, assisted in obtaining personal information from susceptible individuals, some homeless and drug addicted, to manipulate the government’s First-Time Homebuyer Credit program and use the proceeds from their scheme to better themselves and purchase personal items. Although the defendants and the individuals they recruited never purchased homes, they filed, or assisted in the filing of, tax returns in 2009 claiming otherwise. The participants who provided the information received between $500 and $1000 for their cooperation in the scheme.

In a related but separate scheme, Lakieta Phillips, 27, of Hawthorne pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS. Phillips is scheduled to appear before Judge Klausner on May 13, 2013 for sentencing. The charge of conspiring to submit false claims to the IRS carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

The First-Time Homebuyer Credit was a tax credit for individuals and couples who purchased a new home between April 9, 2008 and April 30, 2010. For homes purchased between April 9 and December 31, 2008, the credit was worth up to $7,500; had to be repaid, interest-free, over the course of 15 years; and was available only to “first-time homebuyers,” that is, the taxpayer had not owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase.

This investigation was conducted by federal agents with the IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, in conjunction with the Long Beach Police Department.

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

 

(Leasing News provides this ad “gratis” as a means
to help support the growth of Lease Police)  

Leasing News: Fernando's View
by Fernando Croce

Special Oscar Column:

As the cream of Hollywood get ready to parade in pricey gowns and endure goofy musical numbers, the question remains: Who will take home the gold on Oscar night this Sunday? For the benefit of movie-lovers and audiences, we’ve put together this list of predictions for the main categories of American cinema’s top award.

Best Picture:

Nominees: "Amour," "Argo," "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Django Unchained," "Les Miserables," "Life of Pi," "Lincoln," "Silver Linings Playbook," and "Zero Dark Thirty"

Prediction: Once again, the ten-nomination rule allows for a wide variety of films, ranging from musical adaptations, special effects-heavy fables, neurotic comedies and incendiary Westerns. While "Lincoln" first seemed to be the frontrunner due to its meticulous historical setting, the more conventionally crowd-pleasing thriller "Argo" has in the past few weeks racking up prizes as well as box-office returns, making it the night's sure big winner.

Previous Winner Netflix tips: "On the Waterfront" (1954), "West Side Story" (1961), "The Sting" (1973), "Gandhi" (1982), "Dances with Wolves" (1990), and "A Beautiful Mind" (2001)

Best Director:

Nominees: Michael Haneke ("Amour"), Ang Lee ("Life of Pi"), David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Steven Spielberg ("Lincoln") and Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild")

Prediction: With "Argo's" director Ben Affleck out of the race, it seems that this year will offer the unusual but not unique sight of Best Picture and Best Director going to different films. With acclaimed veterans like Haneke, Lee and Russell competing with first-timer Zeitlin, Spielberg--one of the few filmmakers from the 1970s who continues to put out important work--might be poised to receive his third statuette.

Previous Winner Netflix tip: William Wyler for "Ben Hur" (1959), George Cukor for "My Fair Lady" (1964), Bob Fosse for "Cabaret" (1972), James L. Brooks for "Terms of Endearment" (1991), Robert Zemeckis for "Forest Gump" and Ethan and Joel Coen for "No Country for Old Men"

Best Actor:

Nominees: Bradley Cooper ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Daniel Day-Lewis ("Lincoln"), Hugh Jackman ("Les Miserables"), Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master") and Denzel Washington ("Flight")

Prediction: Speaking of third statuettes, two-time winner Daniel Day-Lewis has a virtual lock on another Oscar come ceremony night. That's not to say that the other nominees, featuring revelatory performances from Cooper, Phoenix and Washington, don’t also deserve to win. But Day-Lewis, considered by many to be the greatest living actor, delivers an uncanny portrayal of a legendary figure that could have easily turned into a saintly wax effigy.

Previous Winner Netflix tip: Humphrey Bogart for "The African Queen" (1951), Lee Marvin for "Cat Ballou" (1965), Art Carney for "Harry and Tonto" (1974), William Hurt for "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1985), Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman" (1992) and Sean Penn for "Mystic River" (2003)

Best Actress:

Nominees: Jessica Chastain ("Zero Dark Thirty"), Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Emmanuelle Riva ("Amour"), Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), and Naomi Watts ("The Impossible")

Prediction: This year's Best Actress field is a fascinating one, as it includes both the oldest nominee ever (85-year-old Riva) and the youngest (9-year-old Wallis). Though Riva has been recently sweeping critics awards and could still pull a win come Oscar night, she has stiff competition from younger actresses like Chastain and specially Lawrence, whose acclaimed performances could just as easily snag the prize.

Previous Winner Netflix tip: Vivien Leigh for "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951), Elizabeth Taylor for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966), Ellen Burstyn for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), Katharine Hepburn for "On Golden Pond" (1981), Jessica Lange for "Blue Sky" (1994) and Reese Witherspoon for "Walk the Line" (2005)

Best Supporting Actor:

Nominees: Alan Arkin ("Argo"), Robert De Niro ("Silver Linings Playbook"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("The Master"), Tommy Lee Jones ("Lincoln") and Christoph Waltz ("Django Unchained")

Prediction: As usual, the Supporting Actor category is brimming with juicy work from superb performers. Arkin was an early favorite, but De Niro has recently been gaining momentum for a performance many critics have called his best in years. Previous winner Jones would be a safe bet for "Lincoln," though Hoffman and Waltz are certainly no less deserving for their particularly rich performances in two of the year's richest films.

Previous Winner Netflix tip: Frank Sinatra for "From Here to Eternity" (1953), George Kennedy for "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), John Houseman for "The Paper Chase" (1973), Louis Gossett Jr. for "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), Joe Pesci for "Goodfellas" (1990) and George Clooney for "Syriana" (2005)

Best Supporting Actress:

Nominees: Amy Adams ("The Master"), Sally Field ("Lincoln"), Anne Hathaway ("Les Miserables"), Helen Hunt ("The Sessions") and Jackie Weaver ("Silver Linings Playbook")

Prediction: Some of the best acting in this category was found in the most subtle roles, in Field's ripples of madness, in Adams' chilly and powerful gaze, in Hunt's mask-like smiles and Weaver's maternal concern. In one of the night's surest bets, however, the award is going to Hathaway, whose bravura 5-minute role in "Les Miserables" is said to have brought tears to the eyes of many a viewer.

Previous Winner Netflix tip: Dorothy Malone for "Written on the Wind" (1956), Patty Duke for "The Miracle Worker" (1962), Cloris Leachman for "The Last Picture Show" (1971), Linda Hunt for "The Year of Living Dangerously" (1983), Juliette Binoche for "The English Patient" (1996) and Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Christina Barcelona" (2007)

Retriever/Labrador Mix
Denver, Colorado Adopt-a-Dog

Coco

Animal ID: 18873282
Breed: Retriever, Labrador/Mix
Age: 8 years 1 month 5 days
Sex: Female
Size: Large
Color: Chocolate
Spayed
Declawed: No
Site: MaxFund Dog Shelter
Location: Big Dog Room
Intake Date: 1/9/2013

“I'm Coco, a youthful "free spirit" kind of canine longing for a new home. I'm smart and know basic commands. I also know how to open doors with levers, and can open latches and free myself from being crated too long! I actually like a kennel, but like the door open so I don't feel too lonely after a while.

“I am well-behaved and housetrained, of course, and I'm great with kids. As a Lab, I'm a born lover of fun, nature and life itself! And I really like being with people. Also on my favorites" list are stuffed toys, rawhides, walks, car rides and other friendly dogs.

“I would love to be considered a perfect new addition to your family, so please come see me soon!”

MaxFund Animal Adoption Center
1025 Galapago Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
Office and Shelter: 303-595-4917
Shelter Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:
11 AM - 4 PM
Closed Tuesday
Saturday, Sunday: 11 AM - 4 PM

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----

 

Direct Capital Ranked Among Top Ten Best Places to Work in America
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10431148.htm

Apple, Google, Cisco, HP, Oracle Among Silicon Valley Cos.
That Avoid Paying Billions in Taxes
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/02/13/cisco-apple-hp-oracle-google-avoid-paying-billions-in-taxes/

US is on fast-track to energy independence, report suggests
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/us-fast-track-energy-independence-report-suggests-1C8344034

Homeowners Leasing Solar Panels Without a Lot of Upfront Cash
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014241278873244

Rates, like Congress, barely move at all
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-analysis.aspx?ic_id=Top_Stories_link_1

Detroit Blight Authority to clear city of vacant buildings
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130214/NEWS/130219920/pulte-leads-nonprofit-detroit-blight-authority-to-clear-city-of

Ex-Dixon comptroller gets 19 1/2 years for $54 million fraud
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-rita-crundwell-sentencing-20130214,0,4868115.story

Travelers at D/FW Airport fret about what American-US Airways merger
means for them
http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/travelers-at-dfw-airport-fret-about-what-american-us-airways-merger-means-for-them.html/

Trump Plaza sold for bargain-basement $20 million
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/02/14/trump-plaza-sold-20-million/1920965/

Tesla's Elon Musk fires back at the New York Times
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22588308/tesla-elon-musk-fires-back-new-york-times-blog-model-s

Google grows into a venture capital power
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/venturing_out

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

---You May Have Missed

Where the rich people live
http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/12/news/economy/where-rich-live/index.html?iid=obnetwork

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

SparkPeople--Live Healthier and Longer

Cosmopolitan
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=371794

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Briefs----

Get defensive: Draft has answers for 49ers' flagging front four
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2013/02/get-defensive-draft-has-answers-for-49ers-flagging-front-four.html

Oscar Pistorius charged with murder
http://espn.go.com/olympics/story/_/id/8946820/olympic-sprinter-oscar-pistorius-charged-murder-girlfriend-reeva-steenkamp

Jadeveon Clowney's mother expects him to play in 2013
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130214/jadeveon-clowney-mother-south-carolina/#ixzz2Kx8ec96w

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

California Nuts Briefs---

x-San Diego mayor's gambling losses top $1B
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/14/maureen-oconnor-mayor-gambling-money/

A Look at Some New California Laws
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/27/5078557/a-look-at-some-new-california.html

Silicon Valley commercial real estate market will continue to sizzle, report says
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22584813/silicon-valley-commercial-real-estate-market-will-continue

 

 

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

“Gimme that Wine”

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

Forbes writer ‘called out’ about Oregon female winemakers
http://www.greatnorthwestwine.com/2013/02/14/oregon-female-winemakers/

Napa Valley Winery to Age Wine In Charleston Harbor
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/napa-valley-winery-age-wine-173400345.html

‘American Wine,’ a story of great growth
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/american-wine-a-story-of-great-growth/2013/02/11/285c43cc-7021-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_story.html

Arizona wine industry growing strong
http://tucsoncitizen.com/pour-me-some-grapes/2013/02/13/arizona-wineindustry-growing-strong/

Share your thoughts: Will consumers pay more for wine?
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/68846/share-your-thoughts-will-consumers-pay-more-for-wine/

 

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

           1762 - The British capture Fort Martinique, the main French port in the West Indies, and then St. Lucia and Grenada. Later in the year, Britain will also overrun the Spanish colonial outposts of Cuba and of Manila in the Philippines.     
    1726- Birthday of Abraham Clark, signer of the Declaration of Independence, farmer and lawyer. Born at Elizabethtown, NJ, and died there Sept 15, 1794. One of the “ordinary” signers, representing the people of his area, originally a farmer. Two or three of the sons of Mr. Clark were officers in the army, during the revolutionary struggle. During a part of their captivity, their sufferings were extreme, being confined in the notorious prison ship, Jersey. Painful as the condition of his sons was, Mr. Clark scrupulously avoided calling the attention of congress to the subject, excepting in a single instance. One of his sons, a captain of artillery, had been cast into a dungeon, where he received no other food than that which was conveyed to him by his fellow prisoners, through a keyhole. On a representation of these facts to congress, that body immediately directed a course of retaliation in respect to a British officer. This had the desired effect, and Captain Clark's condition was improved.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/clark.htm
http://www.colonialhall.com/clark/clark.php
    1758- Benjamin Franklin brought in mustard from France and introduced it to his guests in both a dark and light yellow “mustard,” hence its common name today. One of his guests was Benjamin Jackson, who established Globe Mills on Germantown Road, Philadelphia, PA, bottling and selling the product in glass bottles with his label on them. He advertised in the Pennsylvania Chronicle of February 15, 1768, that he was “ the original establisher of the mustard manufactory in America, and...at present the only mustard manufacturer on the continent. I bought the art with me into the country.” The truth, according to the Global Gourmet: All mustard is made in relatively the same way. The seed must be crushed, its hull and bran sifted out or not depending on type of mustard being made. It then may or may not go through further grinding and crushing. A liquid such as water, wine, vinegar, beer, or a combination of several of these liquids is added, along with seasonings and perhaps other flavorings. The mustard is mixed, in some cases simmered, and then cooled. Some mustard is aged in large containers before it is bottled and shipped to stores and customer. Although similar recipes for mustard paste appear as early as 42 AD, the use of mustard as a condiment was not widely practiced in either Greece or Rome. The Romans took the seed to Gaul, and by the ninth century French monasteries were bringing in considerable income from mustard preparations. By the 13th century, mustard was one of the items offered by Parisian sauce-hawkers, who walked the streets at dinner peddling their savory war.
    1764--- The city of St. Louis was established as a French trading post. Pierre Laclede Liguest and stepson Auguste Chouteau notched a couple of trees that marked the site for Laclede's Landing that became St. Louis. August Chouteau is recognized as the “builder” of St. Louis.
http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/pierre-laclede.html
http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/StLouis/BlockInfo/Block34ALaclede.htm
http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/auguste-chouteau.html
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/laclede.htm
http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/Circa1804/StLouis/BlockInfo/Block34AAChouteauSr.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/6403/rene.html
http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/research/data/about/history.html
    1798 - The first serious fist fight occurs in Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwpugilr.html
    1803- birthday of John Sutter. Born at Kandern, Germany, Sutter established the first white settlement on the site of Sacramento, CA, in 1839, and owned a large tract of land there, which he named New Helvetia. The first great gold strike in the US was on his property, at Sutter's Mill, Jan 24, 1848. His land was soon overrun by gold seekers who, he claimed, slaughtered his cattle and stole or destroyed his property. Sutter was bankrupt by 1852. Died at Washington, DC, June 18, 1880
    1804-- New Jersey becomes last northern state to abolish slavery
http://www.slavenorth.com/newjersey.htm
http://www.slavenorth.com/exclusion.htm
    1808- birthday of Cyrus McCormick, 1808. He was the first to utilize "leasing" and "finance" to promote his product, something unheard of in his day. American historians believe McCormick's invention of the reaper is second only to the railroad in the development of the United States. Continuing the dream of his father, McCormick constructed a horse-operated reaper which was demonstrated for the first time in a Virginia wheat field in July 1831. He moved his operation to Chicago, IL, in 1847 in order to be closer to the Midwest's expanding wheat fields. His business prospered despite two decades of constant litigation over patent rights. His machine also was not considered the "best" of its day. In order to get his machine on the farm, he would offer "no payment until after Harvest," "No money down," " Seasonal payments," " Rent to Own," " Lease with Ability to Trade in For New Model." He died May 13, 1884, at Chicago. The company today is International Harvester.
    1812- birthday of Charles Lewis Tiffany, American jeweler whose name became synonymous with high standards of quality. Born at Killingly, CT, and died at New York, NY, Feb 18, 1902. 
    1820-Birthday of Susan Brownell Anthony, affectionally known as Aunt Susan. One of the primary figures of the 19th century battle for women's rights and became its best known spokeswoman. Elected to Hall of Fame for Great Americans in 1950. An untiring pioneer crusader for women's rights, women's suffrage, Negro suffrage and abolition who traveled this nation constantly for 60 years for social justice. Her last public words: "Failure is impossible."
http://winningthevote.org/SBAnthony.html
    1836-Birthday of Sarah Fuller - early advocate of teaching deaf children to read lips rather than signing. Taught Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, at her Boston School for Deaf-Mutes, which later became known as the Horace Mann School for the Deaf. (not to be confused with philosopher Sarah Margaret Fuller.)
http://search.eb.com/women/articles/Fuller_Sarah.html
    1849- Goat Island, also known as Sea Bird Island and later as Wood Island, sold by Nathan Spear to Harbor Master Edward A. King for $1. This island serves as a base today for the Bay Bridge. It is not to be confused with Treasure Island, which is man-made.
http://www.inetours.com/images/Snglimgs/Treasure_Island_Aerial.jpg
    1860-Birthday of Annie Blythe West, Japanese government gave her the 6th degree of the Order of the Crown for her 40 years of missionary work in Japan among women, children, and disabled soldiers.
    1876-- Ada Everleigh who with her sister Minna operated a brothel in Chicago, "probably the most famous and luxurious house of prostitution in the country” from 1900-1911. At the time there were reported to be nearly 600 houses of prostitution in Chicago alone. When a reform movement closed the Everleigh house in 1911 because of their fame (others remained open), the sisters retired millionaires.
http://www.britannica.com/women/articles/Everleigh_Ada_and_Minna.html
http://www.littlebarrestaurant.com/lb8_everleigh.html
Minnie Everleigh
http://images.suntimes.com/century/images/1900-2.jpg
    1879-- President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. It would be some 41 years before the federal government would allow women to affect the making of the laws through suffrage.
    1895 - A big Gulf snowstorm produced six inches at Brownsville TX and Mobile AL, 15 inches at Galveston TX, and 24 inches of snow at Rayne LA in 24 hours. Snow fell at the very mouth of the Mississippi River. Houston TX received 22 inches of snow, and nine inches blanketed New Orleans LA.
    1898-American battleship Maine was blown up while at anchor in Havana harbor, at 9:40 PM. The ship, under the command of Captain Charles G. Sigsbee, sank quickly, and 260 members of its crew were lost. Inflamed public opinion in the US ignored the lack of evidence to establish responsibility for the explosion. "Remember the Maine " became the war cry, and a formal declaration of war against Spain followed on Apr 25, 1898.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb15.html
    1905—Composer Harold Arlen birthday
http://www.haroldarlen.com/
    1915- jazz trumpeter Taft Jordan born Florence, SC.
http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B8907
    1917 --San Francisco Public Library (Main Branch at Civic center) dedicated.
http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/main/sfplhist.htm
    1917—Birthday of Theresa Castro - US businesswoman, co-owner of Castro Convertible, virtually a synonym for convertible sofa. She had saved her tips as a waitress to help start the company with her husband Bernard. Historians record it as the last major invention in sofa beds, actually the result of customers' requests of an upholsterer named Bernard Castro (1904-1991) to produce a davenport sofa bed that looked and worked well. The Castro Convertible, patented in 1948, with its folding springs that pull out from inside the sofa frame, was the prototype for most modern sofa beds. A recent departure from the Castro type sofa bed features covered foam sections that stack to become seats and unfold to become beds. These designs reflect an ongoing need for cheaper more portable furniture. After becoming wealthy, Theresa Castro became well-known as an energetic charitable benefactor in New York and Florida, Her daughter, Bernadette Castro, at age 4, was used in television commercial to show how easily the bed opened and folded. Today she is the New York State parks commissioner and a well-known personality in her own right.
http://www.tecsoc.org/pubs/history/2001/aug24.htm
http://www.rpts.tamu.edu/pugsley/CastroB.htm
    1918-Country singer Hank Locklin was born in McLellan, Florida. Locklin, who first hit the country charts in 1949, is best known for his 1960 hit "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." He has the distinction of being one of the most popular singers in Ireland, and is credited with helping make country music popular on the Emerald Isle. 
    1932- The US four-man bobsled team won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY. On the team was Edward F. Eagan, who had won a gold medal in boxing at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Egan thus became the first person to win gold medals in both the Winter and Summer Olympics.
    1932 - George Burns and Gracie Allen debuted as regulars on "The Guy Lombardo Show" on CBS radio. The couple was so popular that soon, they would have their own "Burns and Allen Show". George and Gracie continued on radio for 18 years before making the switch to TV. All in all, they were big hits for three decades.
    1933- at Bay Front Park, Miami, FL, an assassin aiming at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt had his aim deflected by a spectator. Cermak, mayor of Chicago, IL, born May 9, 1873, at Kladno, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, was struck and killed instead. Giuseppe (Joe) Zangara, the 32-year-old assassin, who had emigrated from Italy in 1923, was electrocuted at the Raiford, FL, state prison Mar 20, 1933.
    1936 - The temperature at Parshall ND plunged to 60 degrees below zero to establish a state record. On the 6th of July that same year the temperature at Steele ND hit 121 degrees, also a state record
    1941-Duke Ellington records “Take the A Train,” Victor 273080)
    1941 - Brian Holland, of the Motown songwriting team of Holland, Dozier and Holland, was born in Detroit. The trio, including Brian's brother, Eddie, and Lamont Dozier, were responsible for 28 Top-Ten hits between 1963 and 1966. Among their successes - "Heat Wave" for Martha and the Vandellas, "Stop! In the Name of Love" for the Supremes and "Reach Out, I'll Be There" for the Four Tops. The three songwriters formed their own record label, Invictus-Hot Wax, in 1968. "Want Ads" by Honey Cone became the company's first number-one hit, in 1971. 
    1944-GORDON, NATHAN GREEN  Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, commander of Catalina patrol plane. Place and date: Bismarck Sea, 15 February 1944. Entered service at: Arkansas. Born: 4 September 1916, Morrilton, Ark. Citation: For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as commander of a Catalina patrol plane in rescuing personnel of the U.S. Army 5th Air Force shot down in combat over Kavieng Harbor in the Bismarck Sea, 15 February 1944. On air alert in the vicinity of Vitu Islands, Lt. (then Lt. j.g.) Gordon unhesitatingly responded to a report of the crash and flew boldly into the harbor, defying close-range fire from enemy shore guns to make 3 separate landings in full view of the Japanese and pick up 9 men, several of them injured. With his cumbersome flying boat dangerously overloaded, he made a brilliant takeoff despite heavy swells and almost total absence of wind and set a course for base, only to receive the report of another group stranded in a rubber life raft 600 yards from the enemy shore. Promptly turning back, he again risked his life to set his plane down under direct fire of the heaviest defenses of Kavieng and take aboard 6 more survivors, coolly making his fourth dexterous takeoff with 15 rescued officers and men. By his exceptional daring, personal valor, and incomparable airmanship under most perilous conditions, Lt. Gordon prevented certain death or capture of our airmen by the Japanese.
   1945--FLUCKEY, EUGENE BENNETT  Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy, Commanding U.S.S. Barb. Place and date: Along coast of China, 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945. Entered service at: Illinois. Born: S October 1913, Washington, D.C. Other Navy award: Navy Cross with 3 Gold Stars. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Barb during her 11th war patrol along the east coast of China from 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945. After sinking a large enemy ammunition ship and damaging additional tonnage during a running 2-hour night battle on 8 January, Comdr. Fluckey, in an exceptional feat of brilliant deduction and bold tracking on 25 January, located a concentration of more than 30 enemy ships in the lower reaches of Nankuan Chiang (Mamkwan Harbor). Fully aware that a safe retirement would necessitate an hour's run at full speed through the uncharted, mined, and rock-obstructed waters, he bravely ordered, "Battle station--torpedoes!" In a daring penetration of the heavy enemy screen, and riding in 5 fathoms of water, he launched the Barb's last forward torpedoes at 3,000-yard range. Quickly bringing the ship's stern tubes to bear, he turned loose 4 more torpedoes into the enemy, obtaining 8 direct hits on 6 of the main targets to explode a large ammunition ship and cause inestimable damage by the resultant flying shells and other pyrotechnics. Clearing the treacherous area at high speed, he brought the Barb through to safety and 4 days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Comdr. Fluckey, his gallant officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1950---Top Hits
Dear Hearts and Gentle People - Bing Crosby
The Old Master Painter - Snooky Lanson
There's No Tomorrow - Tony Martin
Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy - Red Foley
    1951- Birthday of Jane Seymour, real name Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England best known for her title role of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, the long-running TV series.
http://www.friendsofjane.com/
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-26021/
    1951-Birthday of singer Melissa Manchester, born the Bronx, New York
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-983
http://www.melissa-manchester.com/biography.html
    1953- Tenley Albright made a figure skating history by becoming the first American woman to win the world's championship. She also skated her way to a silver medal at the 1952 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics.
    1957--The Coasters record "Searchin'", which will reach #3 in the US and become the first of their ten Billboard Top 40 hits.
    1957-Impresario Irvin Feld debuts his Greatest Shows of 1957 in Pittsburgh. On the bill: Clyde McPhatter, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Lavern Baker, Bill Doggett, the Moonglows, the Five Satins and more. Before it closes on May 5, the tour goes through every region of the U.S., including some such as the northern Rocky Mountain states, which have never seen a live rock and roll show before.
    1957 – San Francisco Beatnik writer Jack Kerouac departs New York on the S.S. Slovenia en route for Tangier to see William Burroughs. February-March: In Tangier, Kerouac stays in a room above Burroughs at the Villa Muniria; types Burroughs' Naked Lunch manuscript (Kerouac has provided the title for the novel which Burroughs originally called Word Hoard.) In March Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlovsky arrive in Tangier to visit Kerouac and Burroughs.
    1958 - "Get A Job", by The Silhouettes, hit #1 on the music Tunedex, staying there for two weeks. One week earlier, the number one song was "Sugartime", by The McGuire Sisters, which fell off the top to be replaced by Perry Como's “Catch a Falling Start.” "Get A Job" would be replaced as number one in two weeks by "Tequila", an instrumental by a studio group known as The Champs.
    1958---Top Hits
Get a Job - The Silhouettes
Don't/I Beg of You - Elvis Presley
Catch a Falling Star/Magic Moments - Perry Como
Ballad of a Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash
    1958-Jerry Lee Lewis performs "Great Balls of Fire" and his latest release "Breathless" on "American Bandstand." Later in the day, "The Dick Clark Show," a new Saturday night rock & roll television program debuts on ABC-TV. The show features appearances by Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, Connie Francis, Chuck Willis, the Royal Teens and Johnnie Ray.
    1962 - Ray Charles records "I Can't Stop Loving You" at United Studios in Hollywood, California. The tune will go on to top both the US and UK charts and would be included on the LP "Modern Sounds In Country / Western Music", which would lead the Billboard album chart for 14 weeks. 
    1964 ---Bill Bradley scores 51 points for Princeton (Bradley fouled out with his team leading 75-63), and a 58-point outburst against Wichita State in the 1965 NCAA tourna­ment, which was a single game record. In total, Bradley scored 2,503 points at Princeton, averaging 30.2 points per game. In 1965, Bradley became the first basketball player chosen as winner of the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award, presented to the top amateur athlete in the country. After captaining the triumphant U.S. Olympic team in 1964, Bradley graduated with honors and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford.
http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Bradley.htm
http://quest.morris.com/bradley/
    1964---"Navy Blue" by Diane Renay enters the Billboard chart, on its way to #6. Her highest charting follow-up, "Kiss Me Sailor" would make it to #29. 
    1965- the new Canadian national flag was raised in Ottawa, Canada's capital on this day. The re-and-white flag with a red maple leaf in the center replaced the Red Ensign flag which had the British Union Jack in the upper left-hard corner. It is now called “ the Maple Leaf” flag.
    1966---Top Hits
My Love - Petula Clark
Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie
Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
Giddyup Go - Red Sovine
    1967--WILLETT, LOUIS E.  Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 February 1967. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 19 June 1945, Brooklyn, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Willett distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company C, during combat operations. His squad was conducting a security sweep when it made contact with a large enemy force. The squad was immediately engaged with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and pinned to the ground. Despite the deadly fusillade, Pfc. Willett rose to his feet firing rapid bursts from his weapon and moved to a position from which he placed highly effective fire on the enemy. His action allowed the remainder of his squad to begin to withdraw from the superior enemy force toward the company perimeter. Pfc. Willett covered the squad's withdrawal, but his position drew heavy enemy machinegun fire, and he received multiple wounds enabling the enemy again to pin down the remainder of the squad. Pfc. Willett struggled to an upright position, and, disregarding his painful wounds, he again engaged the enemy with his rifle to allow his squad to continue its movement and to evacuate several of his comrades who were by now wounded. Moving from position to position, he engaged the enemy at close range until he was mortally wounded. By his unselfish acts of bravery, Pfc. Willett insured the withdrawal of his comrades to the company position, saving their lives at the cost of his life. Pfc. Willett's valorous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country. 
    1969-Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" hits #1 on the pop chart.
    1969- The Doors' "Touch Me" peaks at #3 on the chart.
    1971---Birthday of Renee O'Connor , aka Gabrielle, born Houston, Texas. ( Gabrielle was the dutiful sidekick and devoted best friend of Xena, Warrior Princess.)
http://reneeoconnor.info/whoisrenee.php
http://www.xenaville.com/cast/renee.html
    1973-Birthday of Amy VanDyken - U.S. athlete won a record four gold medals at the 1996 Olympics, the most gold medals for any US woman in one Olympics to that date. AVD has severe asthma, doctors have estimated that she gets 65 per cent of a normal person's oxygen and on her worst days, she gets 30 per cent. She has passed out during workouts Her golds were in the 50m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly and two team events.
http://www.tahoecelebritygolf.com/Players/VanDyken-Amy.html
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9910/27/chat.vandyken/index.html
    1974 -Boston Bruins Center Phil Esposito scored the 1,000 the point of his career, an assist in Boston's 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Esposito finished his career with 1,590 points.
    1974---Top Hits
Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
Americans - Byron MacGregor
Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) - Aretha Franklin
World of Make Believe - Bill Anderson
    1975- Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" hits #1 on the pop chart.
    1975-- Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel hits #1.
    1982---Top Hits
Centerfold - The J. Geils Band
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
Open Arms - Journey
Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight - Eddie Rabbitt
    1978-Leon Spinks won a 15-round split controversial decision over Muhammad Ali to capture the heavyweight championship in a fight in Las Vegas.
    1979- The 1978 Grammy Award winners are announced. The "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack wins Album of the Year and the Bee Gees take home statues for Best Pop Group and Best Arrangement for Voices for "Staying Alive." Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" wins Record and Song of the Year.
    1986-- Living Bibles International moved to its present headquarters in Naperville, IL. Founded in 1968 by Ken Taylor, editor of the Living Bible, LBI is an interdenominational Bible distributing agency, working in 45 countries.
    1982 - An intense cyclone off the Atlantic coast capsized a drilling rig killing 84 persons, and sank a Soviet freighter resulting in 33 more deaths. The cyclone produced 80 mph winds which whipped the water into waves fifty feet high.
    1986 - Whitney Houston reached the #1 spot on the music charts. Her single, "How Will I Know", replaced a song recorded by her first cousin, Dionne Warwick ("That's What Friends Are For").
    1987 - A storm crossing the central U.S. produced severe thunderstorms which spawned tornadoes in Louisiana and Mississippi. Tornadoes injured four persons at Pierre Pass LA, three persons at Tangipahoa LA, two persons at Lexie MS and two persons at Nicholson MS. Thunderstorm winds gusting to 100 mph killed one person south of Sulphur LA. Jackson MS was drenched with 1.5 inches of rain in ten minutes.
    1989 - Thirty-seven cities in the southeastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. The afternoon high of 80 degrees at Atlanta GA was a February record. Highs of 79 degrees at Chattanooga TN, 84 degrees at Columbia SC and 85 degrees at New Orleans LA equaled February records
    1990---Top Hits
Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair
Two to Make It Right - Seduction
Janie's Got a Gun - Aerosmith
Southern Star – Alabama
    1990 - Heavy snow also blanketed the Northern Atlantic Coast States, with ten inches reported at Buffalo NY and Mount Washington NH. Freezing rain over southern New England knocked out electricity to more than 10,000 homes in the western suburbs of Boston MA.
    1995-- Dow-Jones closes at record 3986.17
    1995 --Population of People's Republic of China hits 1.2 billion
    1995---Top Hits
Creep- TLC
Take A Bow- Madonna
On Bended Knee- Boyz II Men
Another Night- Real McCoy
    1995- Known as the “Condor,” the FBI arrested Kevin Mitnick in Raleigh, NC. It was considered by the FBI as its "most wanted hacker." He was charged him with cracking security for some of the nation's most protected computers. (Mitnick was later released after serving five years behind bars.
http://www.takedown.com/bio/mitnick.html
    1997-- US female Figure Skating championship won by Tara Lipinski
    1997-- US male Figure Skating championship won by Todd Eldridge
    1998 - Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500. Earnhardt won the race on the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR, the 40th Anniversary of the Daytona 500 and his 20th running of the Daytona 500. During a post-race interview he took a stuffed toy monkey and threw it on the ground and said, “Now I have that monkey off my back!”
    1998- The Rolling Stones wrap up their Bridges To Babylon North American tour in Las Vegas. The Stones played "The Joint," the 1,400 seat theatre inside the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas. Among those in attendance is Brad Pitt, Leonardo DeCaprio, Johnny Depp, Sting and Eddie Murphy. Said Mick during the show , "Well this is a fantastic audience. It's got to be the best-dressed audience I've ever seen in my life.
    1999-- Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura -- a former Rolling Stones concert bodyguard -- declares today "Rolling Stones Day."
    2000---Top Hits
Thank God I Found You- Mariah Carey Featuring Joe
I Knew I Loved You- Savage Garden
What A Girl Wants- Christina Aguilera
Get It On Tonite- Montell Jordan
    2004 - Up to 11 inches of snow fell in areas south of Nashville, TN, causing power outages and producing hazardous driving conditions.