Equipment Leasing and Finance Industry Confidence
Increases in February to 56.7

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) releases the February 2019 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry showing it has increased in February to 56.7, an increase from the January index of 53.4.

Quite Positive Comments from Industry Executive Leadership, according to the report:

Independent, Small Ticket

Quentin Cote, CLFP, President, Mintaka Financial, LLC
“Low unemployment, low interest rates and rising wages are all positives. I’m concerned about continued trade wars, the uncertainty surrounding the partial government shutdown, and the fact we are increasing the deficit when the economy is booming, leaving no tools at the government’s disposal should there be a downturn.”

Valerie Hayes Jester, President, Brandywine Capital Associates
“We are seeing demand increase as the year progresses and the shutdown is temporarily off the table and not constantly in the news. Excess liquidity continues to keep margins compressed. Portfolio performance remained strong at the end of 2018 and we expect this trend to continue this year.”

Bank, Small Ticket

Paul Menzel, CLFP, President and CEO, Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., an Umpqua Bank Company
“Economic fundamentals are good and the financial condition of the banking industry is as sound as it has ever been. Biggest concerns are the absence of strong political leadership and how it might result in a Black Swan event.”

Bank, Middle Ticket

Harry Kaplun, President, Specialty Finance, Frost Bank
“Within the U.S. the positive trends continue. GDP and workforce growth along with a reasonably low cost of money are just some of the positive indicators.”

Michael Romanowski, President, Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation
“We continue to face the head winds of low agriculture commodity prices and tariffs that persisted in 2018. Until there is a light at the end of the tunnel with tariffs and agriculture commodity prices improve, we expect capital expenditures by producers to be muted.”

Frank Campagna, Business Line Manager, M&T Commercial Equipment Finance, said, “Our optimism in the economy requires putting a blind eye to the current political climate with the hope that sensible minds will prevail; we are seeing a demand in most industry sectors and geographic regions that we serve. Clients, especially in the transportation sector, are turning over equipment more frequently and are returning to using tax lease structures more than in the recent past. Clients are also more interested in discussing financing alternatives and engaging in the planning process with us early, which indicates a willingness and need to spend on capex.”

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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Full ELFF Report
https://www.leasefoundation.org/industry-resources/monthly-confidence-index/

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New Hires---Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Michael Brigante was promoted to Managing Director, Sales and Capital Markets, Nations Equipment Finance, Norwalk, Connecticut.  He joined the firm October, 2011, as Senior Vice President, Capital Markets.  Previously, he was Vice President, Capital Markets, Atel Capital Corporation (June, 2010 - August, 2011); Senior Vice President, Capital Markets/Equipment Finance, CIT Groups, Inc. (August, 2005 - November, 2008); Vice  President, Intermediary Finance, GE Commercial Finance (2001 - 2005); Vice President, Capital Markets/Regional Sales Manager, Key Equipment Finance (March, 2000 - October, 2001);  Senior Vice President, Corporate Equipment Finance, Fleet Capital (May, 1995 - March, 2000); Syndication Manager, Pitney Bowes Credit Corporation (1983 - 1995).  Education: Sacred Heart University, Finance (1983 - 1985),
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-brigante-683b817/

Ryan Bohert was promoted to Senior Vice President, Capital Markets & Syndications, Nations Equipment Finance, Norwalk, Connecticut. He is located in New York, New York.  He joined the firm August, 2016, Vice President, Syndications.  Previously, he was Assistant Treasurer, Inside Sales, and Commercial Finance Operations, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (February, 2016 - August, 2016); Financial Sales Manager, Construction (July, 2014 - February, 2016); Financial Consultant, AXA Equitable (May, 2012 - November, 2013).  Education: University of Connecticut, Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Finance and Management 2014 - 2017). Dual Concentration: Finance and Management.  Molloy College. Bachelor's Degree, Business Management (2007 - 2011). Activities and Societies: Molloy Men's Lacrosse Team, Freshman Class President, 2007).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-bohlert-56661789/

Theodore Jon Cohen was hired as Attorney, Pearl Capital Business Finance, LLC, New York, New York.  He previously was General Counsel, Eastern Funding, LLC (January, 2009 - December, 2018). Education: Boston University, Graduate School of Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration, Accounting and Business/Management, Graduated with honors (1969 - 1971).  Boston University School of Law. Juris Doctor (1968 - 1971).  University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor's Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Management, General (1964 - 1968). https://www.linkedin.com/in/theodore-cohen-66181214/

Albert Garcia was hired as Account Executive, Partners Capital Group, Santa Ana, California.  Previously, he was Manufactured Housing Sales Agent, Superior Homes (May, 2017 - October, 2018); Senior Account Executive, TEQlease Capital (July, 2013 - March, 2017): Independent Merchant Services Agent, North American Bancard (October, 2011 - July, 2012). Community Service: Volunteer: Coach Conjeo Youth Basketball Association. Basketball Coach, City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (June, 2016). Coach,  AYSO (September, 2016 - Present).  Education: Vanguard University of Southern California, BA, Sociology (2000 - 2005). Activities and Societies: Basketball, Volunteer in Probation (Orange County Juvenile Hall, Hong Kong and San Francisco Mission). The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles.  Clinical Psychology (2010 - 2011). Hueneme High School (1997 - 1999). https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertrgarcia/

Harrison Gerber was hired as Regional Manager, Sunset Technologies, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Previously he was at Great America, starting on Collabrance 2012; promoted to GreatAmerica Financial Services, Account Support Advisor, April, 2013; promoted March, 2014, Director of Business Development.  Education: Missouri Southern State University, Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Marketing, Management (2010 - 2012). Activities and Societies: Baseball.  Cum Laude.  Johnson County Community College, Associate's Degree (2008 - 2010). Activities and Societies: Baseball. Academic All-American. https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrison-gerber-023a9064/

Jennie Kim was promoted to Managing Director, Great America Group Advisory & Valuation Services, Woodland Hills, California. She joined the firm November, 2008, Sales & Marketing Support Manager; promoted January, 2012, Client Services Manager & Business Development; promoted January, 2013, Senior Vice President.  Previously, she was at GE Capital, starting 1997, Business Development Associate; promoted January, 1998, Commercial Excellence Associate.  Education: California State University, Northridge, Bachelors, Music (1994 - 1997). https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-kim-7248528/ 

Ryan Littlefield was promoted to Senior Financial Consultant, Beacon Funding, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  He joined the firm October, 2017, Inside Sales.  Previously he was Finance Manager, Tulley BMW (March, 2016 - September, 2017); Ethos Management Trainee, Ethos Group (April, 2015 - March,2016); Scholar Intern, Cintas (April, 2014 - August, 2015); Research Assistant, University of New Hampshire Survey Center (September, 2013 - May, 2014); Merchandiser, Nappi Distributors (May, 2013 - August, 2013).  Community Service: Volunteer: Volunteer Food Service, Ronald McDonald House Charities (Every Christmas Eve since 2004, my family and I have cooked and served dinner for the guests staying at the Ronald McDonald House.) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-littlefield-72a4b48a/

Melissa Massignham was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, First National Capital, Foothill Ranch, California.  She joined the firm July, 2013 and her previous position was SVP, Client Relations.  Previously, she was SVP, Director of Operations, MC Healthcare Finance (November, 2012 - July, 2013); Vice President, First National Capital Corporation (2007 - 2012); Vice President, Affinity Bank (2004 - 2007).  VP, DVI (1990 - 2003). https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-massingham-3b815b70/

Kevin Pearce was hired as Senior Vice President, North Mill Capital, LLC, Princeton, New Jersey.  He is based in Chandler, Arizona.  His territory is Southwest US (except for Southern California).  Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Business Development (Southwest US), Presidential Financial Corporation (April, 2017 - January, 2019); Director of Business Development, Opus Bank (June, 2015 - March, 2017); Senior VP, Commercial & Specialty Banking, Western Alliance Bank (May, 2014 - May, 2016); Senior VP Business Development, Wells Fargo Capital Finance (April, 2006 - May, 2014); Principal/Consultant, Interim Business Solutions, LLC (January, 2005 - April, 2006); FINOVA Capital Corporation, Director, Portfolio Reporting (Company-wide) (2002 - 2004), Subsidiary CFO (January, 1999 - December, 2001); Portfolio Manager, Workout Officer, Sirrom Capital/FINOVA Capital Corp. (January, 1997 - December, 1998). Community Service: Volunteer: Member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), the Commercial Finance Association (CFA) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). Education: Western Kentucky University, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Undergraduate Student, Athlete, Majoring in Finance.  Seminole Community College, Undergraduate Student, Athlete (1983 - 1984). Activities and Societies: Baseball.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-pearce-6471527/

Corey Waller was hired as Banking Partner, Upstart, San Carlos, California.  He is located in New York, New York. Previously, he was Loan Operations & Business Development, Morty (June, 2017 - January, 2019); Marketing and Strategy Manager, Currency Capital (July, 2016 - June, 2017); Sales Analyst, Lexus (November, 2015 - July, 2016); Customer Retention Analyst, Toyota USA (July, 2015 - November 2015). Volunteer: Marketing Coordinator, AEPi Rock-A-Thon (April, 2013). Collaboratively worked with my fraternity chapter to plan and raise over $123,000 for cancer research over a span of three days, making Alpha Epsilon Pi - Mu Deuteron the largest single-chapter philanthropy in the country. Education: University of Missouri-Columbia, Bachelor's Degree, Business/Corporate Communications. Activities and Societies: AEPi Fraternity (President). https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-waller/  

 

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Credit Analyst Norwalk, Ct. Remote Location Considered 2 Years Min. Experience Collateral knowledge of over-the-road trucking assets, construction equipment, material handling, vocational units and machine tools is desired Call Maria Borges-Lopez: (203) 354-6090 or e-mail your resume to HumanResources@nmef.com Please click nmef.com/careers/ for more information www.nmef.com Providing small-ticket equipment financing for businesses across the country through our dedicated referral source network

 

California Finance Brokers, Funders, Lenders
Annual Report Due March 15, 2019

Annual reports for licensees engaged in business under the California Financing Law (CFL) and the Responsible Small Dollar Loan pilot program for calendar year 2018 must be submitted to the DBO no later than March 15, 2019, as required under Financial Code section 22159(a). 

No extensions will be granted. 

The CFL annual report relies on a web-based filing process and must be completed on the DBO’s website via the self-service portal.  Paper or mailed submissions will not be accepted and may result in a penalty assessment or constitute grounds for license revocation. Don’t wait until the last few days as often the website gets overloaded and behind in accepting logins.

Please note that filing a CFL annual report after the deadline will result in penalty assessments.  Pursuant to Financial Code section 22715(b), the penalty shall not exceed $100 for each of the first five business days a report is overdue, and thereafter shall not exceed $500 for each business day, not to exceed $25,000. 

Please also note that the self-service portal will be temporarily closed and not accessible for filing annual reports on March 16, 2019 from 12:01 a.m. until 12 noon PST.  Thereafter, the self-service portal will reopen for late filing.

Failure to file a CFL report will result in summary revocation of your license(s) pursuant to Financial Code section 22715(a).  Under Government Code section 11522, a licensee whose license has been revoked or suspended may petition the agency for reinstatement of the license after a period of not less than one year from the date of revocation.

For participating licensees, the 2018 annual report for the Responsible Small Dollar Loan (RSDL) pilot program is also due no later than March 15.  Contact CFL.Inquiries@dbo.ca.gov or call (213) 576-7690 with any questions.

Licensees with questions about the CFL report should call (213) 576-7690 or send an email to CFL.Inquiries@dbo.ca.gov.

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Leasing News Advisor
Allan Levine

Mr. Levine joined the Advisory Board June 6, 2007. 
He has been very active, including writing articles for Leasing News.

Allan Levine, Partner
MADI$ON CAPITAL
11433 Cronridge Drive, Suite F
Owings Mills, MD 21117
alevine@madisoncapital.com
Direct Line: 443-796-7338
Office: 443.796.7333
Fax: 443.796.7200
Equipment and Vehicle Leasing Solutions
www.madisoncapital.com

Allan Levine, co-founder of Madison Capital, and for most or most of his career served as President and Chief Operation Officer of the company. After college, Mr. Levine began his marketing career with Polaroid Corporation. He reportedly learned much of his sales and marketing skills at Polaroid.  In 1971, he began working with a firm focused on vehicle and small-ticket equipment leasing. In 1974, Allan partnered with a local auto dealership group and started Fox Auto & Discount Truck Leasing Company, which eventually merged with Harbor Leasing to become Madison Capital in 1997.

Stepping down as President of Madison Capital a year ago, Allan says he is having the best time continuing to partner responsibilities by supporting credit, being on the management team, and Board of Directors. “I’m doing what I love best, which is continuing to provide financing solutions for my current, my past, and my future clients. “ As it turns out, he reports he is busier than ever.

Allan has served on many boards and committees throughout the leasing industry, and has been active in community organizations. His involvement has included the local chapter of the Nation Vehicle Leasing Association. He also has served on The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Committee for Independent Leasing Companies and its Future Council group. He served on the board and was editor of the Eastern Association of Equipment Leasing’s quarterly publication, until it merged with what is now the National Equipment Finance Association.

Mr. Levine is currently on the advisory board of Maryland Financial Bank. He is also on the board, finance committee, and executive of Woodholme Country Club (it is his local golf stop). He is a past chairman of the Board of  The Chimes, an international not-for-profit serving over 20,000 individuals with disabilities and employs more than 2,300 employees.

He was Vice President of the Jewish Community Center and on its board of directors for many years. He has also served, at the board and committee levels of additional local philanthropic and community organizations. He is a past trustee of The Maryland Zoo, which is the fourth largest in the US. He is past Chair of The Gordon Center (a 550-seat boutique venue for the performing arts). He has also served as a big brother in that local organization. His last board stint was as a board member for Jewish Communal Services.

Allan went to the University of Maryland, where he played lacrosse and lives one block from his local gold stop.  He has 7 grandchildren unevenly balanced with 6 boys and a princess. As a “cockeyed optimist”, Allan looks for 2019 to be his best origination year yet. 

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Missed the Webinar.  Listen to Recording
Free and to Non-Members of ELFA

The Secrets Stats to Empower
Your Equipment Business Benchmarking

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association hosted a free one-hour webinar on Feb. 13 to showcase how equipment finance companies can use the SEFA to solve practical business problems and benchmark their businesses for success.

HIGHLIGHTS:  The webinar is designed to help business leaders use the data in the SEFA to benefit their organizations. Topics will include:

    Introduction to the SEFA
    Benefits of participating in the SEFA
    Live demo of new SEFA digital resources:

     MySEFA, a personalized tool to track your operational and performance statistics and compare them against your peers
     Interactive SEFA Dashboard, a powerful online dashboard that showcases executive summary data from a decade of SEFA reports
     How to use the data to solve business problems, benchmark your company against the competition and identify strategic business moves

WHO:  The webinar presented by John Desmond, Manager, ABAS Information Technology, PricewaterhouseCoopers, which produces the SEFA in partnership with ELFA; David Wiener, Managing Director, Client Services, The Alta Group LLC; and Bill Choi, ELFA Vice President for Research and Industry Services.

 

 

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

Enbom Announces AP Equipment Financing
Moving from California to Oregon

Allegiant Partners Incorporated dba AP Equipment Financing announced the change of its corporate headquarters from Walnut Creek, California to Bend, Oregon. 

Chris Enbom, CEO of AP Equipment Financing, explained, “We opened an office in Bend several years ago with one person.  Due to its great weather, good schools, lower cost of living, access to the outdoors and good airport access we soon had people from California moving to Oregon. 

“We now have over 30 people working from Bend including our specialty truck sales team, our credit operations, documentation, servicing and most of our accounting functions.  Our Walnut Creek office will remain open, housing the majority of our marketing team, however, the heart of the company is now in Bend, where we have officially changed the headquarters of the company.”
.

Raquel O’Leary, Chief Operating Officer, commented, “Our company is growing very quickly. We continue to add most of the staff in Bend and our major satellite office in Wenatchee, Washington.  Both locations are near incredible rivers and mountains, have great weather, and have an overall lower cost of living compared to other major metropolitan areas.

"We are very well positioned to continue to grow from these great cities."

AP Equipment Financing concluded 2018 with a total finance volume of $127 million, a 44.8% increase over 2017’s total finance volume of $87 million. AP Equipment Financing currently employs 60 employees and manages nearly 6,000 lease contracts with small businesses throughout the United States.  For more information visit www.apfinancing.com.

 

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Fernando's View
By Fernando F. Croce

New releases include a keen drama (“High Flying Bird”) and an exhilarating cine-essay (“The Image Book”), while crowd-pleasing spectacle (“First Man”), perceptive humor (“The Land of Steady Habits”) and a gritty gem (“Mikey and Nicky”) come to DVD.

In theaters:

High Flying Bird (Netflix): Continuing his wizardly run after breaking with his own self-appointed retirement, director Steven Soderbergh (“Traffic”) crafts a smart portrait of personal integrity that doubles as a fresh sports movie. Though set in the NBA world, the story unfolds not so much in the basketball court than in behind-the-scenes offices, where deals are cut and players are made and unmade. His agency hurt by a recent lockout, seasoned agent Ray (André Holland) must find a way to hang on to his soul while working within a ruthless system. With the help of a hot-shot rookie (Melvin Gregg), he aims to play the team’s businessmen against each other. Blending serious inquiry with breezy filmmaking, Soderbergh’s provocative movie boasts a strong cast that includes Kyle McLachlan and Bill Duke.

The Image Book (Kino Lorber): Arguably the greatest living director, French master Jean-Luc Godard (“Goodbye to Language”) once again reinvents the medium with his latest cinematic essay. Structured not as a narrative but an impressionistic cavalcade that melds film history with social commentary, the film unfurls in five movements. In each of them, the luxurious artifice of cinema is contrasted with the often terrible reality of the world, offering a moving art critique where image and sound are continually clashing with each other. Always one to challenge rules, Godard experiments with formats, intensifies and desaturates colors, and offers audaciously perplexing juxtapositions. Though not for every audience, the film is an exhilarating ride for the learned cinephile who will luxuriate in its erudite references and bewildering beauty. With subtitles.

Nextflix: The character actor par excellence, Dick Miller (1928-2019) was a quirky, funny, and always welcome presence in movies for six decades. So check out Netflix for his best roles, which include “A Bucket of Blood” (1959), “Hollywood Boulevard” (1976), “Gremlins” (1984), “The Terminator” (1984), and “After Hours” (1985).

On DVD:

First Man(Universal): Director Damien Chazelle follows his Oscar-winning hit “La La Land” with another portrait of overreaching dreamers, reteaming with that film’s leading man Ryan Gosling. Gosling plays real-life astronaut Neil Armstrong, famous as the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. Unfolding over the course of eight years leading up to that momentous achievement, the film charts Armstrong’s dedication in the face of endless challenge, including the toll said dedication took on his personal life. From early NASA experiments to the risky mission which finally reached for the stars, his quietly obsessive professional drive is contrasted with his personal life with wife Janet (Claire Foy) in Houston. Grounding the narrative in the sometimes harrowing tension between technology and humanity, Chazelle’s biopic is keen, crowd-pleasing spectacle.

The Land of Steady Habits (Netflix): A specialist in half-light, half-biting ironies, Nicole Holofcener (“Friends with Money”) serves up another sharp and humanistic comedy-drama. At its centers is a refreshing leading role for character actor Ben Mendelsohn as Anders, a recently retired divorcee trying to cope with the awareness of voids in his life. Despite his luxurious surroundings, Anders feels trapped by quotidian rituals that are supposed to reassure but instead stifle him. While trying to rekindle his feelings for his ex-wife Helene (Edie Falco) and find common ground with his son Preston (Thomas Hill), he finds himself increasingly slipping down an emotional path. Though it suggests the melancholy suburban bubble of films like “American Beauty,” Holofcener’s film provides a far more generous view, greatly aided by her first-rate cast.

Mikey and Nicky (Criterion): Though regrettably sparse, the filmography of writer-director Elaine May (“The Heartbreak Kid”) is a treasure trove of invention and insight. It’s no exception in this freewheeling 1976 comedy-drama, which endures as a snapshot of gritty New Hollywood filmmaking. Nicky (John Cassavetes) is a small-time Philadelphia bookie who finds himself in deep trouble involving stolen money from a mob boss. Fearing for his life, he asks help from his longtime friend Mikey (Peter Falk). With a hired killer on their trail, the two men scramble from one dingy hotel and greasy café to the next. As danger looms near, however, will their friendship be strong enough to keep them together? A pitiless look at camaraderie and betrayal, May’s movie grooves on the rollicking performances of its two stars.

Brown Labrador Retriever
San Francisco, California  Adopt-a-Dog

Addie
Female q
Born: 2013
Breed: Working
Size: 70 lbs.

 

PERSONALITY:  Active, Playful, Confident, Independent, Strong-willed

Addie would make a great hiking companion, though she is selective with strangers. She likes to sniff, roam, and see new things.  Her last home had 80 acres for her to romp around, with her fur brother. However, Addie would be happy with any yard, big or small, just as long as you promise to take her on outdoor adventures!

She does need an owner to calm down her excitement when meeting new dogs, but her eager-to-please attitude will make this an easy task!

Interested in Addie?  Complete the application and someone from DAWG will contact you with more information.

Santa Barbara Dog Adoption and Welfare Group
5480 Overpass Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-0561
nfo@sbdawg.org
Adoption Hours
Open 7 days a week
10:00am - 4:00pm
Make an Appointment
https://www.sbdawg.org/make-an-appointment

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

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AACFB Annual Conference Exhibitors
May 2-4, 2019  Las Vegas

“The American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB) is the premier trade association empowering the independent commercial financing professional and providing direct access to their funding source partners. We represent an estimated $12 billion worth of origination and transaction placement.”

EXHIBITORS

4 Hour Funding
360 Equipment Finance
American Lease Insurance Agency
Amur Equipment Finance
Ascentium Capital LLC
AvTech Capital, LLC
Bankers Capital
Blue Bridge Financial
BlueVine
Bryn Mawr Funding
BSB Leasing
C.H. Brown Co. LLC
Channel Partners Capital
CLFP Foundation
Commercial Funding Partners, LLC
ConnectedFi
Dakota Financial
Entegra Capital LLC
Expansion Capital Group
Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc.
First Federal Leasing
Fleet Evaluator
FORA Financial, LLC
Global Financial & Leasing Services
instaCOVER
JB&B Capital, LLC
KS StateBank/Baystone Government Finance
Marlin Business Bank
Navitas Credit Corp.
NCMIC Professional Solutions
NFS Leasing
North Avenue Capital
North Mill Equipment Finance, LLC
Orange Commercial Credit
Orion First
Paradigm Equipment Finance
Pawnee Leasing Corporation
Providence Equipment Finance, a Division of Providence Bank & Trust
Quality Leasing
RapidAdvance
SLIM Capital
Sterling National Bank
TEAM Funding Solutions
VFI Corporate Finance
Visio Lending

Agenda at a Glance
Thursday, May 2 
7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. AACFB Annual Golf Tournament
9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Brokering Essentials 2.0 - Part 1
12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Women in Leasing Luncheon
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. CLFP Introduction Presentation
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Brokering Essentials 2.0 - Part 2
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sponsor Presentations
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. First-Timers/New Member Orientation
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Speed Dating Reception
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Opening Reception
Friday, May 3 
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast 
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Industry 360
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. The Future of AACFB 
10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Exhibits
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Building Your Own Portfolio
Credit, Upselling, CBR, Financials
Speed Up Your Approval Process
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Inbound Marketing Leads
How to Get Vendor business in 2019
Cyber Security - CYA (Covering Your App)
Saturday, May 4 
8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Registration
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast 
8:30 a.m. – 12:15 pm Exhibits
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Marketing (Hands on Workshop)
Speed Up Your Approvals (Hands on Workshop)
Cyber Security (Hands on Workshop)
12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch & Prizes
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Happy Hour & a Half
Registration Fee 
https://annualconference.aacfb.org/registration

News Briefs----

Amazon to New York: Drop dead
“We do not intend to reopen the HQ2 search at this time”
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/retail/amazon-new-york-drop-dead

U.S.-China Trade Teams Said to Be
   Far Apart on Reform Demands
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-14/u-s-china-trade-teams-said-to-be-far-apart-on-reform-demands 

GE shrinks Boston headquarters plan;
    state to get $87 million back
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge-boston/ge-shrinks-boston-headquarters-plan-state-to-get-87-million-back-idUSKCN1Q32QM

Congress urged to fully open US banking system
    to marijuana business
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/industrynews/bankingandfinance/9284256-181/cannabis-marijuana-banking

Portland’s rush hour traffic is 10th worst in the nation:
  Boston has worst, followec by Washington, DC,Chicago, NY, LA...
https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/02/6e5d1b1b237242/portlands-rush-hour-traffic-is-10th-worst-in-the-nation-report.html

ELFF U.S. Equipment & Software Investment
Momentum Monitor  - 7 pages
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/elff_investment_monitor2019.pdf

 

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You May Have Missed---

Tesla Launches ‘Dog Mode’ to Keep Pets Inside Cars Safe
https://247wallst.com/autos/2019/02/14/telsa-launches-dog-mode-to-keep-pets-inside-cars-safe/

 

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Shortcut Through the Storm 

by Robert Savino 

There were too few roads.
There were too many motorists.
My choice was longer in distance,
but far less travelled.

I took a shortcut through the storm,
crawling over the black-iced asphalt,
too close behind Boyd’s black flower car,
in the dreary pitch of Ocean Parkway.

Storm clouds shifting and changing,
pass over, so low, engulf my presence.
I exit in an angel’s breath,
a winged spirit of the Great South Bay,

greeted by Moses at the foot of the bridge,
moments from home and the neon lights
of strip mall shops, that brighten the bus
stop at the corner of Oak Neck Road.

Minutes pass slowly within these hours.
Sounds of snow plows wake me from sleep.

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Sports Briefs---

Lakers Wouldn't Be First Team to Waste Having LeBron James
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820484-lakers-wouldnt-be-first-team-to-waste-having-lebron-james

Warriors' Steve Kerr Fined $25K for Screaming at Ref vs. Trail Blazers
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2820877-report-warriors-steve-kerr-fined-25k-for-screaming-at-ref-vs-trail-blazers

Warriors 3 Things: Steve Kerr had every reason
    to go ballistic on the refs
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/02/14/warriors-3-things-steve-kerr-had-every-reason-to-go-ballistic-on-the-refs/

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California Nuts Briefs---

The SF Bay Area has more homes for sale,
 spelling relief for buyer-- 43%
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/02/14/the-bay-area-has-more-homes-for-sale-spelling-relief-for-buyers/

More Californians are considering fleeing the state
   as they blame sky-high costs, survey finds
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/12/growing-number-of-californians-considering-moving-from-state-survey.html  

Atmospheric river fuels torrential rain in California
   unleashing flash flooding, mudslides
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/atmospheric-river-fuels-torrential-rain-in-california-unleashing-flash-flooding-mudslides/70007433

Editorial: Good riddance to the Delta twin tunnels boondoggle
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/02/14/editorial-good-riddance-to-the-delta-twin-tunnels-boondoggle/

[headlines]
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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Fédération des Tonneliers de France Meets in Napa
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=209782

The Wines You Should Buy in 2019, According to Critic Robert Parker
https://robbreport.com/food-drink/wine/robert-parkers-wine-picks-for-2841012/

Harry Price, the visionary who helped launch
   downtown Napa's rebirth, dead at 77
https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/harry-price-the-visionary-who-helped-launch-downtown-napa-s/article_0e45f303-3c13-5650-8275-fc2b8ae91276.html?fbclid=IwAR3m1nRuCbD82SLM1h4bMtHZN4_EFDR-6H4uX4_eOygoRi2nW_VhI5BV-cQ

Seven Power Couples of the Wine World
 — and How They Make It Work
https://vinepair.com/articles/wine-power-couples-love/

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

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

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

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

This Day in History

    1762 - The British captured 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 (d. 1794), Elizabethtown, NJ. Signer of the Declaration of Independence, farmer and lawyer. One of the “ordinary” signers, representing the people of his area. Two or three of his sons were officers in the army during the Revolutionary War. 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 A.D., 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/Block34A Laclede.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/Block34A AChouteauSr.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.  Federalist Congressman Roger Griswold of Connecticut attacked Vermont Representative Matthew Lyon with a hickory walking stick in the chambers of the House. Griswold struck Lyon repeatedly about the head, shoulders and arms, while Lyon attempted to shield himself from the blows. Lyon then turned and ran to the fireplace, took up a pair of metal tongs, and having armed himself, returned to the engagement. Griswold then tripped Lyon and struck him in the face while he lay on the ground, at which point the two were separated. After a break of several minutes, however, Lyon unexpectedly pursued Griswold again with the tongs and the brawl was re-ignited.  The two men had a prior history of conflict. On January 30 of that year, Griswold had publicly insulted Lyon by calling him a coward and Lyon had retaliated by spitting in Griswold's face. As a result of Lyon's actions in that case, he became the first Congressman to have charges filed against him with that body's ethics committee, although he escaped censure through a vote in the House.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwpugilr.html
    1799 - Pennsylvania authorized the first printed ballots in the U.S.
    1803 - Birthday of John Sutter (d. 1880) 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.
    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 (d. 1884), Shenandoah Valley, VA. 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." The company today is International Harvester.
    1812 - Birthday of Charles Lewis Tiffany (d. 1902) at Killingly, CT. American jeweler whose name became synonymous with high standards of quality.
    1820 - Birthday of Susan Brownell Anthony (d. 1906), Adams, MA. Affectionally known as Aunt Susan, she was born into a Quaker family committed to social equality. She collected anti-slavery petitions at the age of 17. In 1856, she became the New York state agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society. 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." She became the first non-fictitious woman to be depicted on U.S. coinage when her portrait appeared on the 1979 dollar coin.
http://winningthevote.org/SBAnthony.html
    1836 - Birthday of Sarah Fuller (d. 1927), Weston, MA. An early
advocate of teaching deaf children to read lips rather than signing, she 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/FullerSarah.html
    1849 - Goat Island, in San Francisco Bay, 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/TreasureIslandAerial.jpg
    1864 - Ada Everleigh (d. 1960) was born in Greene County, VA.  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/EverleighAdaandMinna.html  http://www.littlebarrestaurant.com/lb8everleigh.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.
    1892 - Earl Henry “Red” Blaik (d. 1989) was born in Detroit. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth from 1934 to 1940 and at the US Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career record of 166–48– 14. His Army football teams won three consecutive national championships in 1944, 1945 and 1946 with the running combination of Mr. Inside, Felix “Doc” Blanchard, and Mr. Outside, Glenn Davis. In 1948, he became one of the first college coaches to implement a two-platoon system, using players strictly for offense or defense. Blaik was also one of the first coaches to analyze the game play-by-play, charting a team’s tendencies on every down with the use of game film. He is generally recognized for introducing one of the game’s most significant changes: the lonely end that lined up on the line of scrimmage several yards away from the rest of the offensive line, which gave the receiver leverage to get open more quickly. It is rare in today’s game that at least one, likely more, receivers are split to either or both sides of the ball before the snap. Blaik was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1964.
    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 (d. 1986) birthday, born Hyman Arluck, Buffalo, NY. He had written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide: the songs for the 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz” (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg), including the classic "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook. "Over the Rainbow" was voted the twentieth century's No. 1 song by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
http://www.haroldarlen.com/
    1910 - Both Major Leagues adopted resolutions banning syndicate baseball, which allowed owners to have financial interests in more than one team. The National League voted for a 154-game schedule to open on April 12th, which the American League had already adopted. This schedule remained in effect until 1961 when expansion added several teams and drove the schedule to the present 162 games. Other rules: umpires must announce all team changes to spectators; batting orders must be delivered to the umpire at home plate before the game; a batter is out if he crosses the plate from one batter’s box to the other while the pitcher is in position to pitch; a base runner is out if he passes another runner before the latter has been put out.
    1915 - Jazz trumpeter Taft Jordan (d. 1981) born Florence, SC. http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B8907
    1917 - San Francisco Public Library (Main Branch at Civic Center) dedicated. In 1906, architect Daniel Burnham presented his plans for a new Civic Center for San Francisco, including a new library building. These plans were put on hold after the 1906 Earthquake and fire, which destroyed about 140,000 volumes, nearly 80% of its holdings. In 1917, the new main library building, designed by George W. Kelham, opened in the Civic Center. http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/main/sfplhist.htm
    1917 - Birthday of Theresa Castro (d. 2002), McKeesport, PA. US businesswoman, co-owner with her husband Bernard of Castro Convertible, virtually a synonym for convertible sofa. She had saved her tips as a waitress to help start the company with him. 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 commercials to show how easily the bed opened and folded. She was the New York State Parks Commissioner (1995-2007) 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 Lawrence Hankins Locklin (d. 2009) 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" which was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1994. George and Gracie continued on radio for 18 years before making the switch to TV. All in all, they worked together as a successful comedy team that entertained vaudeville, film, radio and television audiences for over forty years. Gracie died in 1964 after years of heart problems while George lived to be 100, passing a couple of months after his centennial in 1996.
    1933 - At Bay Front Park, Miami, FL, an assassin aiming at President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt had his aim deflected by a spectator. Anton Cermak, mayor of Chicago, 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.
    1935 – Astronaut Roger Chafee (d. 1967) was born in Grand Rapids, MI. He was selected to be an astronaut as a part of NASA Astronaut Group 3. In 1967, Chaffee died in a fire along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Edward White during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy. Chaffee was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and a second Air Medal.
    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 prolific 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.
    1945 - The first player in organized baseball to enlist in World War II was Billy Southworth, Jr., the son of Cardinals manager Billy Southworth.  Billy, Jr. was killed when his B-29 crashed into the water off Flushing, NY. The 27-year-old was a veteran of 25 missions in Europe.
    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, born Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England.  Best known for her title role of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” the long-running TV series, she was also a Bond girl as Solitaire in “Live and Let Die.”
http://www.friendsofjane.com/ 
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/PersonDetail/personid-26021/
    1951 - Birthday of singer Melissa Manchester, 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 Star.” "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.
    1958 - Frankie Avalon scored his first US Top 10 smash when "Dede Dinah" reached number 7. He would follow it with a string of hits over the next couple of years, including "Ginger Bread" (#9), "Venus" (#1), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (#8), "A Boy Without a Girl" (#10), "Just Ask Your Heart" (#7) and "Why" (#1).
    1961 - On its way to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, the entire United States figure skating team along with several of their coaches and family members were killed when their plane crashed in Belgium. This was the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 707 in regular passenger service, 28 months after it was placed into commercial use.
    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. He played for the New York Knickerbockers in the NBA (1967-77) during which time they won 2 NBA Championships. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983, along with teammate Dave DeBusschere. In 1984, the Knicks retired his number 24 jersey; he was the fourth player so honored by the Knicks, after Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and, and DeBusschere. He is one of only two players, along with Manu Ginóbili, to have won a Euroleague title, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. He served three terms as a Democratic US Senator from New Jersey and ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party’s Presidential nomination in 2000.
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 Katy, 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
    1972 – Sound recordings were granted U.S. federal copyright protection for the first time.
    1973 - Birthday of Amy VanDyken in Denver, CO. U.S. swimmer won a record four gold medals at the 1996 Olympics, the most gold medals for any US woman in one Olympics to that date. She 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 and her 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.
    1990 - Major League owners refused to open spring training without a new Basic Agreement with the Players’ Union, beginning a lockout that will last 32 days and postpone the start of the regular season by one week.
    1992 – Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced in Milwaukee to life in prison. He was convicted of the rape, murder, and dismemberment of seventeen men and boys between 1978 and 1991. Dahmer was sentenced to fifteen terms of life imprisonment and was later sentenced to a sixteenth term of life imprisonment for an additional homicide committed in Ohio in 1978. On November 28, 1994, Dahmer was beaten to death by Christopher Scarver, a fellow inmate.
    1994 – Ila Borders became the first woman to pitch in a college baseball game. Appearing for Southern California College of Costa Mesa, she five-hit Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College, 12-1. In her senior year, she went 4-5 with a 5.22 ERA in 51 innings. In 1997, Borders signed with the St. Paul Saints and made her professional debut, faced three Sioux Falls Canaries batters, and gave up three earned runs. Three weeks later, on June 18, she was traded to the Duluth-Superior Dukes. Ila had no decisions and a 7.53 ERA in 15 appearances that year, allowing 24 hits in 14 innings, striking out 11 and walking nine. In 1998, Borders made history again by becoming the first female pitcher in history to start a minor league baseball game and later in the season the first to record a win.
    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
“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.
    2011 - Protesters swarmed Wisconsin's capitol after Gov. Scott Walker proposed cutbacks in benefits and bargaining rights for public employees.
    2015 – The Federal Aviation Administration is planning rules for commercial drones that will limit flights to uncrowded areas within the operator's line of sight, meaning that uses such as package delivery or long-range news reporting are off limits.
    2016 - The Grammys paid tribute to the late Glenn Frey when Eagles co-founders Don Henley and Bernie Leadon, along with guitarist Joe Walsh, bassist Tim Schmit and Jackson Browne, took the stage for a rendition of "Take It Easy." After their performance, show producer Ken Ehrlich presented the band with the 1977 Grammy Award that they won for "Hotel California" but for which they then were not in attendance.