Winter Poem

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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Website PowerOutage.us tracks U.S. blackouts and its data shows that 4,325,000 customers in Texas were cut off when the situation reached its peak a 10:22:28 AM EST yesterday. The storm also impacted other states but, as this infographic shows, the impact on electricity was not as severe. Texas also struggled as it operates its own independent power grid, meaning it did not have the ability to import extra energy to compensate for its losses. As of Tuesday evening, at least three million people in Texas were still in the dark.

By Niall McCarthy, Statista

 

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Tara Aasand was promoted to Vice President, Sales and Relationship Management, LTi Technology Solutions, Omaha, Nebraska.  She joined the firm March, 2014, as Manager, Account Management. Previously, she was at LeaseTeam, Inc., which became LTi Technology, joining the company as Manager, Account Management, March, 2014; Business Development, Great American Insurance Group (March, 2002 - May 2014); Banking, Wells Fargo Bank (January, 1999 - March, 2002). License: P&C Agent.  Associations: President, National Equipment Finance Association (October, 2014 - December, 2015). https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-aasand-1627095/

Naszier Colburn was hired as Account Manager, Balboa Capital, Costa Mesa, California.  He is located in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Previously he was Finance Specialist, Navitas Credit Corp. (powered by United Community Bank) (July, 2020 - February, 2021). He joined NewLane Finance (Powered by WSFS Bank) November, 2018 as Business Development Consultant; promoted September, 2019, Business Development Executive. Education: University of Phoenix. Bachelor's Degree. Accounting (2015 - 2019). https://www.linkedin.com/in/naszier-colburn-1a9292161/

Emily Harrison was hired as Underwriting Office for the Equipment Finance Group, Western Alliance Bank, a subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation, Phoenix, Arizona." (She)...is responsible for underwriting new lease and loan requests and renewals for working capital lines of credit, term loans, traditional asset-based lines of credit and other bank lending products. She is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Previously, she was at STORE Capital, starting November, 2019, as Credit Analyst; promoted October, 2020, Portfolio Manager.  She joined Vanguard July, 2018, as Brokerage Investment Professional; promoted August, 2019, Orders Associate. She was at three positions at Colorado College: Lifeguard (March, 2015 - May, 2019); Research Assistant and Thesis Tutor Economics Department (August, 2016 - May, 2017); Business Analyst, Enterprise Data Management Intern, Brown Brothers Harriman (June, 2017 - August, 2017). Licenses: Series 63, FINRA. Issued October, 2018. Series 7, FINRA, Issued September, 2018. Education: Colorado College,  Bachelor's Degree, Mathematical Economics (2014 - 2018).  Activities and Societies: Division III Collegiate Swimmer. Co-President of SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee). https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-harrison-8ba660129

Christina Liburdi was promoted to Senior Account Manager, Flex-Cap, Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  She joined the firm January, 2021, as Directrice de Comptes Senoir - Senior Account Manager. Previously, Account Manager, Hitachi Capital Canada (September, 2011 - January, 2021); Psychotherapist (private practice) ConceptNutrivie (January, 1998 - September, 2011); Territory Development Manager, Axidata, Inc. (1999 - 2011).  Volunteer: Montreal Children’s Hospital. Nourri-Source Laval. Education: Dawson Certification in Psychotherapy, Psychotherapist. Social Worker. Phsiotherapist. John F. Kenney High School. Secondary https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-liburdi-535b1941/

Irene (Theodossiou) Marcantonis was hired as Sales Associate, TCF Capital Solutions, Detroit, Michigan. Previously, she was at BB&T, starting as Quality Control Specialist, March, 2009; promoted July, 2012, Quality Control Manager; promoted August, 2016, Syndication Officer; Transaction Coordinator, GE Capital (June, 2005 - November, 2008). She joined Hudson United Bank as Senior Sales Association, April, 2004; promoted October, 2004, Service Manager; Cashier, Morgan Stanley (November, 2002 - April, 2004). Education: Penn State University, Berks Campus. BA. Financial Services (1999 - 2003). https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-theodossiou-marcantonis-5910987

Frank Souder was hired as Vice President, TCF Capital Solutions, Detroit, Michigan. He is located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Previously, he was Vice President, Syndications, BB&T Capital Solutions (acquired by TCF Capital Solutions) (February, 2021- February, 2021); Vice President, Syndications, Susquehanna Commercial Finance, Inc. (June, 2007); Vice President, Syndications, Town & Country Leasing (May 2003 - June, 2007); VP Syndications, American Equipment Leasing, Inc. (1998 - 2004); AVP Syndications, CoreStates Leasing (1990 - 1998); Credit Analyst, CIT (1986 - 1990).  Education: Elizabethtown College. BS. Management/Marketing (1980 - 1984).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-souder-357745b/

 

Leasing News
Help Wanted Ads
Now is Your Opportunity to Join Companies Using FinTech

 

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Sales Makes it Happen by Kit Menkin

Leasing in 2021 Will Not Lose its Sizzle

The majority of the numbers of leases written in 2020 were capital leases, over 91%, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation. The leasing of airplanes, ships, containers, and large dollar items brought operating leasing in the top dollar financing. This is not going to diminish.

Perhaps more companies will be able to move more equipment with real operating leases where the equipment is returned at the end of the term or "re-leased" back or to others. There may be a boom as the economy beings to improve for firms such as ATEL Capital, Icon Capital, P&L Capital, as many others in this marketplace. It will not be a bust.

The main target on why a business should lease will not change.

"It is the use of equipment, not ownership."

Leasing still has the sizzle in moving a piece of equipment from the showroom floor to the business location:

1. Saves Cash - no money down.
2. Usually longer term available, resulting in lower monthly payments.
3. Fast and convenient - less hassle for long term "borrowing.” from banks and lower rates than alternate finance transactions.
4. Doesn't affect bank lines of credit for accounts receivable/working capital/Inventory.
5. Provides cost-cutting or profit-making equipment to be installed immediately.
6. May increase the firm's ability to acquire funds.
7. Doesn't dilute ownership by requiring new investors or raising capital.
8. Establishes a new line of credit for future growth
9. Improves bottom line due to less cash outlay
10. Improves credit ratings for suppliers/customers

And you can’t beat leasing for vehicle financing!!!

In Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, it is the animal that adapts to the environment that survives. Specifically, he summed it up, "all species of organisms arise and develop through the natural selection from small, inherited variations that increase the individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce." Change is positive! Financial Technology is here. It has not replaced sales personnel. It has increased their need to get involved in the process, giving them better tools to close a deal fast!

 

 

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Source: www.constructiondive.com

 

NEC Financial Services to be added to
Financing Cannabis Funding Sources
Many Work with Third Party Originators

Over the past few years, as more states have legalized the sale and use of cannabis products, NEC Financial Services has funded transactions for assets such as POS Systems, CCTV, security and access control, IT and more.

As we enter our 35th year in business, we recognize the continuing industry expansion will increase demand for the financing of capital-intensive projects from growers, distribution and ultimately retail sales.

Our history of flexibility and competitive offerings should continue to be attractive to vendors selling into the legal cannabis industry and their customers.

Colin Rosenmeyer, CLFP
Director – Business Development
Ph: (800) 451-5361 x 302
E-Mail: colin.rosenmeyer@neclease.com
www.neclease.com

Financing Cannabis Funding Sources
Many Work with Third Party Originators
http://leasingnews.org/Pages/cannabis_financing.html

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Companies who notify lessee
in advance of lease expiration
Updated

These companies do not use language to confuse or deceive, resulting in an automatic continuation of the lease for an additional twelve months of payments. They do not invoke the twelve months on a $1.00 purchase option or an Equipment Finance Agreement.

In its editorial of June 30, 2011, Leasing News recommended that the equipment lessor send a certified letter with return receipt. A program such as DocuSign is added as another new recommendation.

American Financial Network, Inc. American Leasefund, Inc. Balboa Capital Corp. BancLease Acceptance Corporation Bankers Capital Equipment Finance BSB Leasing Calfund Capital Technology & Leasing, LLC Dakota Financial, LLC eLease Financial Pacific Leasing First Midwest Equipment Finance Forum Financial Services, Inc. Gonor Funding GreatAmerica Financial

Innovative Lease Services, Inc. Lease-$mart Madison Capital Macrolease Corporation Manufacturer's Lease Plans, Inc (Microfinancial)/TimePayment Navitas Lease Corp. NewLane Finance Northwest Leasing Company P&L Capital Corporation Pacifica Capital Padco Financial Services Pawnee Leasing Corporation Southern California Leasing, In Specialty Funding, Albuquerque, New Mexico TEAM Funding Solutions

Full Article:
http://leasingnews.org/Pages/lease_expiration.html

 

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

FSG Capital Celebrates 30 Years in Business
Founder Bruce Winter, CLFP, 30 Year Anniversary
 was on the first CLFP Board of Directors

FSG Capital, Inc., based in Laurel, Maryland, is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary in business.

FSG is an independent equipment financing company serving businesses primarily in the mid-Atlantic area, but with customers throughout the United States. The Company began in February 1991 and over the past three decades has built a strong reputation for partnering with businesses to provide equipment financing solutions that support growth, improve cash flow and bolster the bottom line. By focusing strictly on commercial equipment financing, FSG offers customers the opportunity to better manage debt structures with both bank and non-bank alternatives for different asset classes.

Bruce Winter, Founder and President of FSG, said, “Our success over the past thirty years, through multiple economic cycles, is attributed to the contributions of our valued employees, our devotion to exceptional customer service and our partnering with other world-class industry participants. The fact that we still maintain relationships with customers that have been with us from the very beginning is a testament to our philosophy of being a partner in their success. We look forward to the next decade with enthusiasm for the opportunity to continue to serve our customers with equipment financing solutions that make good business sense.”

Why I Became a CLP – Bruce J. Winter
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2012/2_08.htm#clp

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

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Fernando Croce Reviews
Watch at Home

An unsinkable character actress who scintillated in comedy as well as in drama, Cloris Leachman (1926-2021) graced movie and TV screens with her peppery wit for decades. So check out Netflix for some of her best roles.

Kiss Me Deadly (Robert Aldrich, 1955): Leachman had a brief but unforgettable early appearance in this explosive masterpiece from subversive director Robert Aldrich. She plays Christina Bailey, a mysterious young woman first seen running desperately down a highway at night, clad only in a trench coat. She gets picked up by hard-boiled private detective Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker), but is soon killed by brutal thugs. Hammer spends the rest of the film trying to solve the message she gave him before dying, in an exhilaratingly perverse journey that leads him to nuclear scientists, blank-faced molls, and a suitcase that emits a strange glow. Bringing Mickey Spillane’s crime story to the screen, Aldrich turns the genre upside down in an endlessly fascinating classic that gave Leachman one of her first movie roles.

The Last Picture Show (Peter Bogdanovich, 1971): Leachman won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in this acclaimed, poignant elegy to passing times (and classical cinema), directed by New Hollywood wunderkind Peter Bogdanovich. Adapted from Larry McMurthy’s novel, the storychronicles the intertwined paths of several characters in a small Texas town in the early 1950s. There’s high-school senior Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and his best friend Duane (Jeff Bridges), sensitive yet inarticulate youngsters unsure about the future. And there’s the older generation, embodied by grizzledmovie theater owner Sam the Lion (Ben Johnson) and Ruth Popper (Leachman), a depressed, married woman who begins an affair with Sonny. Candid and melancholy, splendidly acted and beautifully crafted, Bogdanovich’s cinematic poem enduresas one of the Seventies’ signature works.

Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks, 1974): In the first of her collaborations with Mel Brooks, Leachman contributes a memorably pinched caricature to this affectionate spoofof 1930s Universal horror classics. Gene Wilder stars as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a respected surgeon determined to stay away from the infamous legacy of his family. When he inherits his grandfather’s Transylvanian estate, however, he finds himself gravitating toward controversial experiments with the help of hunchback assistant Igor (Marty Feldman). It’s not long before he’s creating his own monster from dead bodies, a lurching creature (Peter Boyle) with unexpected musical talent. Amid the gallery of hilarious turns, Leachman stands out as Frau Blucher, a governess so fearsome that the very mention of her name has lightning striking and horses whinnying in terror. An all-time comedy classic.

High Anxiety (Mel Brooks, 1977): Leachman again teamed up with Mel Brooks in this uproarious send-up of Alfred Hitchcock suspense thrillers. Brooks himself stars as Dr. Thorndyke, the new director of the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous, a place beset by mysterious happenings. While helping Victoria Brisbane (Madeleine Kahn) search for her missing father, he must also conquer his own phobias, most notably a fear of heights known as “High Anxiety.” Leachman plays the severe Nurse Diesel, who runs the institute with an iron hand and may be behind a string of deaths involving wealthy patients and suspicious personnel. Paying homage to such classics as “Rebecca,” “Vertigo,” “Psycho” and “The Birds” while exuding his own unique brand of humor, this is one of Brooks’ most accomplishedburlesques.

Spanglish (James L. Brooks, 2004): Having first worked together on the 1970s TV show “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Leachman and Oscar-winning director James L. Brooks (“Terms of Endearment”) reunited in this underrated comedy-drama, which has the actress in fine, scene-stealing form. A satire of the culturalgap, the film is set in an affluent Los Angeles neighborhood where characters interact while often beingliterally unable to understand each other. There’s noted chef John Clasky (Adam Sandler) and his neurotic wife Deborah (Tea Leoni), who need help running their opulent home. Enter Flor (Paz Vega), a Mexican immigrant who is hired as a housekeeper and who can only communicate with them through her daughter. Brooks’ trademark blend of the acerbic and the heartfelt is embodied by Leachman as Deborah’s tippling but wise mother.

Husky
Beverly Hills, California  Adopt a Dog



Hubert

Male
2 Years Old
Large
Red/Chestnut/Orange. White/cream
Neutered
Vaccinations Up to Date

This is Hubert! He is a 2-year-old male Husky that was hit by a car and is now with us recovering. It will be at least six weeks before Hubert is healed enough to start looking for a new home, and we will post updates as we learn more about his personality! Call 310-278-2935 to inquire about our critters!

Amanda Foundation
51 North Foothill Rd. (Mailing only)
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-278-2935

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Leasing News Advisor
Bruce Lurie

Bruce Lurie, President, Douglas-Guardian Services Corporation, Houston, Texas, an equipment inspection and collateral management firm established in 1932.

Douglas-Guardian Services Corporation
14800 St. Mary's Lane, Suite 200
Houston, Texas 77079
Telephone: 800-255-0552
Fax 800-529-7530
blurie@douglasguardian.com
www.douglasguardian.com

Bruce Lurie joined the Leasing News Advisory board September 12, 2007 and has been an active participant.

Since July 1995, Bruce Lurie has been president of Douglas-Guardian Services Corporation, the original equipment inspection and collateral management firm established in 1932.

When not chasing down collateral to inspect throughout the US or Canada, Bruce enjoys spending time with his wife Martha, his three young grandchildren and 18-year-old daughter Danielle. Bruce is an avid jogger and former triathlon fanatic.

Prior to Douglas Guardian, his experience includes fifteen years with Brown and Root, Inc., a multi-billion dollar engineering and construction company. Primary areas of responsibility have included project development, project finance, sales, marketing, strategic planning and executive management. Extensive training in quality deployment and team building techniques. BS, Civil Engineering, BS Engineering Management, and MBA from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.

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Ken Lubin PodCast with Dext Capital
President-CIO Kyin Lok

"Kyin is the President and CEO of Dext Capital. With over two decades of equipment leasing and financing experience, Kyin has been a highly effective and global leader with, U.S. Bank, GE and most recently led a number of leasing verticals for TCF Bank. An industry leader with a growth mindset, Kyin is leading the charge in growing a one-of-a-kind Medical Equipment finance business backed By Sightway Capital, a Two Sigma company. In his first year as a leader at Dext Capital, he and his team achieved nearly $100mm in originations. A Boston native with a Bachelors from Northeastern and MBA from Columbia, Kyin has now landed in Portland, OR, but has not lost his love for the New England Patriots."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyin-lok-19a6504/

Podcast:

 

YouTube version:

 

 

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

News Briefs---

Big Freeze in Texas Is Becoming
     a Global Oil Market Crisis
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-17/big-freeze-in-texas-is-becoming-a-global-oil-market-crisis

Additional fiscal stimulus powers U.S. retail sales;
    manufacturing output strong
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN2AH1SN

People are leaving S.F., but not for Austin or Miami.
    USPS data shows where they went
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/People-are-leaving-S-F-but-not-for-Austin-or-15955527.php

GM Extends Plant Downtime Due
    to Extended Semiconductor Shortage
https://www.industryweek.com/supply-chain/article/21154722/gm-extends-plant-downtime-and-ford-cuts-f150-production-due-to-semiconductor-shortage

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You May Have Missed---

Millions of jobs probably aren’t coming back,
    even after the pandemic ends
https://www.washingtonpost.com/road-to-recovery/2021/02/17/unemployed-workers-retraining/

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Sports Briefs---

San Jose State’s Brent Brennan wins
    national football coach of year honor
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/02/17/san-jose-states-brent-brennan-wins-national-football-coach-of-year-honor/

Exclusive: Unlikely to return, Richard Sherman
    reflects positively on time with 49ers
https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article249294850.html#storylink=hpdigest_sports

Draymond Green’s playmaking has helped power
     Steph Curry’s MVP-caliber season
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/draymond-greens-playmaking-has-helped-power-steph-currys-mvp-caliber-seas/

How has Warriors' Steph Curry made himself
     nearly impossible to defend?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/How-has-Warriors-Steph-Curry-made-himself-15955522.php

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California Nuts Briefs---

California will pay up to $15M to distribute vaccines
    under new contract with Blue Shield
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article249270455.html?ac_cid=DM386720&ac_bid=-

The Los Angeles school board slashes its police force
    and diverts $25 million to services for Black students
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/us/los-angeles-schools-defund-police-trnd/index.html

300+ homicides: Council presses LAPD on ‘dramatic’ rise in violent crime
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/02/17/300-homicides-council-presses-lapd-on-dramatic-rise-in-violent-crime/<

 

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Australia's Treasury Wine to overhaul business,
    sell assets as Chinese tariffs bite
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-treasury-wine-results-idUKKBN2AG2Q7

E & J Gallo to distribute Bev's "zero sugar" canned wine
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=241677

Cellar Chimp Releases Mobile Based Small Winery Management App
https://www.winebusiness.com/vendornews/?go=getVendorNewsArticle&dataid=241706

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

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

This Day in History

     1571 - A group of Spanish Jesuits in the Chesapeake Bay area, led by Fray Batista Segura, were murdered by the Indians to whom they had come six months earlier to convert. The massacre led ultimately to the withdrawal of all Jesuits living in Florida as well. On September 8, 1565, the first white colony, in what is now the US, was founded at St. Augustine, Florida by the Spanish under Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The first Catholic parish was founded by Fr. Don Martin Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of the Spanish expeditionary forces. The first introduction of European livestock, such as black cattle, horses, sheep and swine, into America was made by the Spanish in Florida. The Spanish began to settle the area, fighting all those who had laid claim to the land. On September 20th, Menéndez destroyed Fort Caroline and massacred most of its inhabitants. He renamed it San Mateo and, in the next two years, built a string of forts to Tampa Bay while looking for a water passage across Florida. The once “peaceful” Indians were either converted to Christianity or tortured and killed by the Spanish on their quest in the New World.
    1668 - Protest against slavery was made by the German Friends, or Quakers, at a meeting in Germantown, PA. They protested against the “traffic in the bodies of men” and considered the question of the “lawfulness and unlawfulness of buying and keeping Negroes.” Some of the protesters were Francis Daniel Pastorius, Dirck op de Graeff, Abrahama op de Graeff, and Gerhard Hendricks.
    1678 - John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" was first published, in England. Bunyan was frequently imprisoned for preaching without a license. During these sequestered times, (1660-72), Bunyan collected the ideas enabling him to pen this masterpiece of Christian literature. It was the most popular book in the new colonies.
http://www.hcis.net/users/miltozah/pilgrim1.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/025201894X/avsearch-df1-2-20/102-1682336-8966565
    1685 - Explorer Renee-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle established a French colony at Fort St Louis in Texas.
    1735 – The first opera was performed in America, "Flora," in Charleston, SC.
    1791 - Congress passed a law admitting the state of Vermont to the Union, after that state had existed for 14 years as a de facto independent largely unrecognized state.
    1795 - George Peabody (d. 1869) was born at South Danvers, MA.  American merchant philanthropist, he endowed the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, museums at Harvard and Yale, and the George Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville, TN.
    1834 – The first US labor newspaper, "The Man," published, New York NY
    1839 - Detroit Boat Club forms (still exists today).
http://www.detroitboatclub.com/
    1841 – The first filibuster in the Senate began over the issue of dismissal of the printers of the Senate. The filibuster continued until March 11. The first extended filibuster, debating the establishment of a national bank, began on June 21 and lasted fourteen days.
http://www.newsaic.com/ftvww39n.html
    1848 – Birthday of Louis Comfort Tiffany (d. 1933), at New York, NY. American artist, son of famed jeweler Charles L. Tiffany. Best remembered for his remarkable work and with decorative iridescent “vavrile” glass.   
    1859 - Scholem Aleichem (d. 1916) birthday, pen name of Russian-born author and humorist Solomon Rabinovitz. The musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” was derived from Aleichem’s short stories about Tevye the Milkman.  Affectionately known in the US as the “Jewish Mark Twain.”
    1861 - Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama. In the years before the Civil War, Senator Jefferson Davis was the acknowledged leader of the Southern bloc and champion of states’ rights, but he had little to do with the secession movement until after his home state of Mississippi joined the Confederacy on January 9, 1861. Davis withdrew from the US Senate that same day. He was unanimously chosen as President of the Confederacy’s provisional government, and he was actually surprised with the news while he was pruning the roses for the winter with his wife. Within the next year, he was elected to a six-year term by popular vote and inaugurated a second time on February 22, 1862 at Richmond, VA.
    1865 - In the Civil War, the Union fleet took the town of Charleston, South Carolina. In Columbia, SC, the fires still burned from the prior day’s invasion by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s federal troops who burned the state house to the ground. Bales of cotton were put to the torch, perhaps by Confederates to prevent their falling into federal hands. Strong winds scattered the burning cotton across most of the city. The entire south was becoming scorched earth as Gen. Grant’s plan was to cut off all supplies and food, and to blockade ships from Europe or free Southern ports.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb18.html
    1867 - The Augusta Institute was founded in Georgia. Established as an institution of higher learning for black students, it moved to Atlanta in 1879, and, in 1913, changed its name to Morehouse College.
http://www.morehouse.edu/
    1882 - Violinist Alfred De Seve, a native of Montreal, appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mendelssohn's "Concerto in E Minor." His appearance was among the earliest by a Canadian soloist with a US orchestra.
    1885 - Mark Twain's “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was published in the United States for the first time. At the time, the book was banned by many libraries for its racial-equality overtones. One hundred and eleven years later, the book was again in the headlines, targeted to be banned from school reading lists because of its racial inequalities
    1892 - Wendell Willkie (d. 1944) was born at Elwood, IN. American lawyer, author, public utility executive and politician, Presidential nominee of the Republican Party in 1940 (He was president of the largest electric company in the US and fought FDR plan to make electric companies separate, rather than regulate electricity as one group).  He is also remembered for his book, “One World,” published in 1943. He ran for the nomination in 1944 but suffered a series of four heart attacks and lost to New York Governor Thomas Dewey.
    1899 - While much of the central and eastern U.S. was recovering from the most severe cold wave of modern history, the temperature at San Francisco soared to 80 degrees to establish a record for month of February
    1908 - For the first time, United States postage stamps were sold. They cost a penny.
    1922 - Birthday of author/editor Helen Gurley Brown (d. 2012), Green Forest, AR.  While an advertising minor executive in 1962, she authored her first book, “Sex and the Single Girl,” an immediate and controversial best seller. In 1965, she was named editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and changed it into a splashy, upbeat magazine aimed at the young women. It even played the "Playboy" card and featured a male nude centerfold. The first was Burt Reynolds with an artful bear rug keeping the censors away. Circulation and advertising revenues shot up. She also wrote “Helen Gurley Brown's Outrageous Opinions” (1966), “Helen Gurley Brown's Single Girl's Cookbook” (1969), and “Sex and the New Single Girl” (1970).
    1924 - Bix Beiderbecke and the Wolverines cut first records in Richmond, Indiana, for Gennett (“Fidgety Feet,” “Jazz Me Blues,” “Lazy Daddy”).
    1927 - The "first great voice of the air," Jessica Dragonette, makes her radio debut on Cities Service Concerts.
    1928 - Drummer Frank Butler (d. 1984) birthday, Kansas City, MO
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/b2/frank_butler_b.htm
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,410461,00.html?artist=Frank+Butler
    1928 - Tenor Sax player Harold Land (d. 2001) birthday, Houston, TX
http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/land.html
http://www.view.com/land-bio.html
    1930 – A cow was milked while flying in an airplane. Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. During the flight, which was attended by reporters, she was milked and the milk was sealed in paper containers and parachuted over St. Louis, MO.
    1930 - Pluto, the ninth planet, was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, AZ. It was given the name of the Roman god of the underworld. Some astronomers don’t accept Pluto as a planet.
    1931 - Toni Morrison, born Chloe Ardelia Wofford (d. 2019), Lorain, Ohio.  American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best-known novels are “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula,” “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved.” She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for “Beloved” and the Nobel Prize in 1993. On 29 May 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
    1932 - In Montreal, Canada, Sonja Henie won her 6th world women’s figure skating title.
    1933 – Yoko Ono was born in Tokyo.  Her relationship with, then marriage to John Lennon has been identified as one the reasons for the breakup of the group.
    1938 – “The Big Broadcast of 1938” was released.  One of the most famous motion pictures of all-time hit the silver screen. The film featured Bob Hope singing his version of, "Thanks for the Memory," which got an Oscar for Best Song. It also became his theme song for the remainder of his illustrious career. Also starring in the film were Dorothy Lamour and W.C. Fields.
    1939 - Golden Gate International Exposition opens on Treasure Island.  This was a World’s Fair celebrating, among other things, the city's two newly built bridges. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. The exposition opened from February 18, 1939, through October 29, 1939, and from May 25, 1940, through September 29, 1940.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist6/ti-statue.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/views/ggieviews.ppt
    1942 – The Mills Brothers on Decca records recorded one of their three all-time greatest hits, "Paper Doll." The other two classics by the Mills Brothers are: "You Always Hurt The One You Love" (1944) and "Glow Worm" (1952).
    1943 - Birthday of American composer Alice Shields, New York City.
    1943 - The Germans commit 26th Panzer and 29th Panzergrenadier Divisions to the attack on Anzio. Strong Allied artillery holds off and blunts the attacks. Kesselring and Mackensen realize that the Allied beachhead cannot be wiped out. The Germans launched a more intense assault against the 45th Division at dawn and destroyed one battalion of the 179th Infantry before pushing the remainder of the unit back a half mile farther to Lucas’ final defensive line by midmorning. Fearing that the 179th Infantry was in danger of giving way, Lucas ordered Col. William O. Darby, founder of the World War II era Darby’s Rangers, to take command of the unit and allow no further retreat. The regiment held, later counting 500 dead Germans in front of its positions. Elsewhere, the 180th and 157th regiments also held their positions in spite of heavy losses during three days of German attacks. By midday, Allied air and artillery superiority had turned the tide. (Leasing News Assoc. Editor Ralph Mango’s father was a B-25 tail-gunner in these missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.) When the Germans launched a final afternoon assault against the 180th and 179th regiments, it was halted by air strikes and massed mortar, machine gun, artillery, and tank fire. Subsequent enemy attacks on 19 and 20 February were noticeably weaker and were broken up by the same combination of Allied arms before ground contact was made. The crisis had passed, and while harassing attacks continued until 22 February, VI Corps went over to the offensive locally and succeeded in retaking some lost ground.
    1945 - Top Hits
“Don’t Fence Me In” - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“Accentuate the Positive” - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“I Dream of You” - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Freddy Stewart)
“I’m Losing My Mind Over You” - Al Dexter
    1949 - On CBS radio, "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar" debuted on CBS radio, starring Charles Russell as the insurance investigator. The show was the last of radio's major, dramatic network programs. Johnny Dollar continued until 1962.
http://www.wayback.net/jd.htm
    1950 – Actress Cybil Shepherd was born in Memphis.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” - Perry Como
“Till I Waltz Again with You” - Teresa Brewer
“Keep It a Secret” - Jo Stafford
“I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes” - Goldie Hill
    1953 – 3D, the new fad in America, was demonstrated in the movie, "Bwana Devil." The three-dimensional feature opened at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City. Arch Oboler directed the movie which starred Robert Stack and the three-dimensional Barbara Britton along with Nigel Bruce and Ramsay Hill. It was a Natural Vision-Magnetic Sound Track picture requiring Polaroid viewers. It was the story of a British engineer who tracked two man-eating lions that were disrupting the construction of the first railroad in East Africa at the run of the century. On April 10, “The House of Wax,” another 3-D film was exhibited at Paramount Theater, New York City, starring Vincent Price. It was also seen through Polaroid viewers. Historians believe the advancement of color, sound, and now 3-D, was to combat the emergence of television, which they thought would put the motion picture industry out of business.
    1953 - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz signed a contract worth $8,000,000 to continue the "I Love Lucy" TV show through 1955. The deal was the richest contract in television. “Babalu!”
The hour TV Show: http://timstvshowcase.com/lucydesibak.jpg
    1953 - Robbie Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Canadian rock band, which also included Robbie's brothers Randy and Tim on guitars, that was internationally popular in the 1970's with such hits as "Blue Collar," "Let It Ride," "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," a 1974 million-seller. At its peak, BTO won many polls and honors in the US, as well as seven Juno Awards.
    1954 – The First Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles.  The church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, NJ by L. Ron Hubbard, his wife and John Galusha.  Since 1952, Hubbard had already been selling Scientology books and technologies. In 1953, he wrote to Helen O'Brien, who was managing the organization, asking her to investigate the "religion angle."  Soon after, despite O'Brien's misgivings and resignation, he announced the religious nature of Scientology in a bulletin to all Scientologists, stressing its relation to the concept of Dharma. 
    1955 - John Travolta was born in Englewood, NJ.  Dancer, singer, actor “Pulp Fiction,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “Urban Cowboy,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and a lead role as Sweathog Vinnie Barbarino in the television hit “Welcome Back Kotter.”
    1956 - The Platters hit "The Great Pretender" peaks at #1 on the pop chart
    1956 - Pat Boone's cover version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" hits #12 on the pop chart.
    1956 - Although she was reluctant to record it in the first place, "Rock and Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr becomes the first number one record by a female in the Rock era. The disc would go on to sell over a million copies, but Kay would later say that she was never asked to perform the record on TV and seldom sang it during a live show.
    1957 - Birthday of Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune), born Vanna Marie Rosich, Conway, SC.
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/5304/vanna.html
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001846/
    1959 - Some of the higher elevations of California were in the midst of a five day storm which produced 189 inches of snow, a single storm record for North America.
    1959 - Ray Charles records "What'd I Say.”
    1959 - The Everly Brothers record "When Will I Be Loved" and "Let It Be Me."
    1959 - Elvis Presley sings after-hours at the Lido Club in Paris while on leave from the US Army.
    1960 - The first artificial ice skating rink of Olympic size was formally opened by Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon at Squaw Valley, CA., for the VIII Olympic Winter Games. The opening was delayed to await Nixon’s arrival as the storm had held up his flight.  Freezing brine was piped into the rink through 70 miles of steel tubing. It had 300 feet of roof floating on cables suspended from 80-foot steel and concrete pillars.  A lack of snow had prompted organizers to hire Native Americans to do a snow dance but a deluge of rain was the only result. Snow finally arrived just before the opening ceremonies.   
    1961 - Top Hits
“Calcutta” - Lawrence Welk
“Shop Around” - The Miracles
“Calendar Girl” - Neil Sedaka
“North to Alaska” - Johnny Horton
    1962 - On weekend leave from marine training, The Everly Brothers appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Wearing full uniform and regulation cropped hair, the duo sang their new single, "Crying in the Rain," which was currently number 6 on the Billboard chart.
    1964 - "Any Wednesday" opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The play established Gene Hackman as an actor. Don Porter and Sandy Dennis also starred in the show.
    1964 - United States punishes nations for trading with Cuba
    1964 - While vacationing in Miami during their first trip to America, the Beatles engage in a photo shoot with heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay, better known later as Muhammad Ali. Clay: "You guys got to be making a lot of money. You ain't as dumb as you look." John Lennon: "No, but you are." That night the group visits a local drive-in to watch the new Elvis film “Fun in Acapulco.”
    1965 - Civil rights worker Jimmie Lee Jackson is beaten and shot by state police in Marion, Alabama. He dies eight days later.
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/selma.html
    1965 - The Beatles record "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Tell Me What You See"
    1966 - FERNANDEZ, DANIEL, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 February 1966. Entered service at: Albuquerque, N. Mex. Born: 30 June 1944, Albuquerque, N. Mex. c.o. No.: 21, 26 April 1967. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Fernandez demonstrated indomitable courage when the patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and driven back by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the Viet Cong attack. Sp4c. Fernandez, a sergeant and 2 other volunteers immediately fought their way through devastating fire and exploding grenades to reach the fallen soldier. Upon reaching their fallen comrade the sergeant was struck in the knee by machine gun fire and immobilized. Sp4c. Fernandez took charge, rallied the left flank of his patrol and began to assist in the recovery of the wounded sergeant. While first aid was being administered to the wounded man, a sudden increase in the accuracy and intensity of enemy fire forced the volunteer group to take cover. As they did, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group, although some men did not see it. Realizing there was no time for the wounded sergeant or the other men to protect themselves from the grenade blast, Sp4c. Fernandez vaulted over the wounded sergeant and threw himself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his 4 comrades at the sacrifice of his life. Sp4c. Fernandez' profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967 - Petula Clark's version of the Charlie Chaplin-penned "This Is My Song" tops the UK chart for the first of a two week stay. After singing the song in French, German and Italian, Petula reluctantly recorded the song in English, even though she thought the lyrics were corny and old fashioned. The tune would go on to be a Top Ten hit in America, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Holland, Belgium and Norway.
    1967 - The Buckinghams' "Kind of a Drag" hits #1
    1968 - Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, along with their female companions, head to Rishikesh, India to join the other two members of the Beatles in studying under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Everyday People” - Sly & The Family Stone
“Touch Me” - The Doors
“Build Me Up Buttercup” - The Foundations
“Until My Dreams Come True” - Jack Greene
    1969 - Elvis Presley records "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind," "Power of My Love," "After Loving You."
    1970 - Federal jury finds the "Chicago 7" innocent of conspiring to incite riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. However, 5 were convicted of crossing state lines with intent to incite riots.
    1972 – The death penalty was declared by the California Supreme Court to be cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the state constitution. 107 inmates were taken off death row. Among those spared by the ruling was Charles Manson.
    1972 - Neil Young receives a gold record for "Harvest," the only Number One record of his lengthy career. The album includes the Number One single "Heart of Gold”.
    1973 - The syndicated radio show "The King Biscuit Flower Hour" debuted with Blood, Sweat and Tears and a then-unknown Bruce Springsteen. The program was an American syndicated radio show presented by the D.I.R. Radio Network that featured concert performances by various rock artists, including the Rolling Stones, U2, Elton John and David Bow.  The program was broadcast on Sunday nights from 1973 until 2007, although new programming ceased in 1993 and previous shows were repeated from that point. During its prime, the program was carried by more than 300 radio stations throughout the United States. The show's name was derived from the influential blues radio show "King Biscuit Time", which was sponsored by the King Biscuit Flour Co., and the hippie phrase "flower power."
    1973 - Richard Petty, the "King of Stock Car Racing," won the Daytona 500 before a crowd of over 103,000 spectators, marking the first time a stock car race had drawn over 100,000 spectators. No longer would there be questions about NASCAR’s mainstream popularity.
    1977 - Top Hits
“Torn Between Two Lovers” - Mary MacGregor
“New Kid in Town” - Eagles
“Blinded by the Light” - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
“Near You” - George Jones & Tammy Wynette.
    1978 - The third time would be the charm for a Topeka based group called Kansas. After scoring Top 40 hits with "Carry On Wayward Son" (#11) and "Point Of Know Return" (#28), "Dust In The Wind" entered the Billboard chart on its way to becoming the group's only Top 10 hit.
    1979 - Richard Petty became the first man to win six Daytona 500s. Winning the most prestigious event in any sport six times is enough to earn the nickname "The King," but Petty is perhaps most famous for his 1967 season in which he won twenty-seven of forty-eight races, including a record ten straight victories. In a sport where mechanical failure is commonplace, Petty’s total domination was seen as superhuman. "The King" came from royal stock. His father, Lee Petty, was the first man to win the Daytona 500.
    1979 – New York record low temperature:  -52º F (-47º C) at Old Forge.
    1979 - Miniseries "Roots: The Next Generations" premieres on ABC TV.
There is controversy that the original story was plagiarized from a 1967 novel by white author Hal Courlander. This miniseries, two years after the original, is about Arthur Haley’s actual life, and begins where the original series left off in 1882.
http://www.martinlutherking.org/roots.html
    1993 - Howard Stern's radio show begins transmitting to Rochester, NY.
http://www.eonline.com/On/Howard/
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/heynow2/
(This is X-rated and typical Howard Sterns: http://www.howardsterndivorce.com/)
    1981 – The first budget of President Reagan proposed the largest tax cuts and spending curbs ever for an administration. In his first State of the Union message, Pres. Reagan called for cuts of $41,000,000,000 in the budget President Carter had submitted. He also proposed a 10% income tax cut in each of the next three years, an increase of about $5,000,000,000 in defense spending and more liberal depreciation rules for business.
    1983 - The Wah Mee Massacre in Seattle is the worst mass-murder in the history of Washington State.
http://www.wahmee.com/chapone.html
    1984 – Reed Larson, Detroit, Michigan got two assists, making him the highest scoring, American-born player in National Hockey League history. Larson broke Tom Williams' previous record by scoring his 432d point.
    1985 - Top Hits
“Careless Whisper” - Wham! featuring George Michael
“Loverboy” - Billy Ocean
“Method of Modern Love” - Daryl Hall John Oates
“Make My Life with You” - The Oak Ridge Boys
    1985 – Diver Greg Louganis was recognized as the top amateur athlete in the United States when he received the James E. Sullivan Award of the Amateur Athletic Union. Louganis won double gold at the 1984 Olympic Games.
    1987 – Girl Scouts Change Color of Uniform: The executives of the Girl Scout movement decided, because the older girls wanted a change, that it was time to change the color of the scout uniform from the traditional Girl Scout green to the newer Girl Scout blue.
    1989 - Low pressure off the coast of North Carolina brought freezing rain and heavy snow to Virginia and the Carolinas. Snowfall totals in Virginia ranged up to 18 inches at Franklin. Freezing rain reached a thickness of two inches around Charlotte.
    1989 – Dodger 1B Steve Garvey married Candace Thomas while at same time being accused of fathering children by 2 other women.
    1995 - Jansen Wins Gold: American speed skater Dan Jansen won a gold medal in the 1,000 meter race at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
    1995 - Hootie and the Blowfish's "Hold My Hand" peaks at #10 on the pop chart.
    1995 - Top Hits
“Take A Bow” - Madonna
“Creep” - TLC
“On Bended Knee” - Boyz II Men
“Another Night” - Real McCoy
    1997 – Trinity Broadcasting Network, a U.S. Christian TV net, cancelled Pat Boone’s weekly gospel music show after he appeared in black leather and fake tattoos on the American Music Awards show. The network said it received thousands of protest phone calls and letters from its ‘prayer partners’. Boone explained that his garb was designed to promote his album "In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy."
    1998 - New standard for 56k modems: As speeds from ISDN connections, DSL, and now cable were threatening dials-up, the two major rival modem makers, 3Com Corporation and Rockwell International, announced a new standard for 56K modems. There still was confusion and it was hoped the new “high speed” would boost sales and overcome the growing competition. The battle over the protocol gave the rivals more sales, enabling them to lower prices even further.
    1998 – Harry Caray, born Harry Carabino, long-time Chicago Cubs broadcaster died at the age of 83 in Rancho Mirage, California.
    1999 – Dr. Ross Leaves “ER.” The much-anticipated departure episode on NBC's “ER”  of Dr. Doug Ross, played by George Clooney, aired, was the top-rated show for the week, and earned a higher Nielsen rating than it had in many months. Each ratings point represents 994,000 households. “ER” earned a 23.8 rating, watched in 23.7 million homes.
    2000 - Top Hits
“I Knew I Loved You” - Savage Garden
“Thank God I Found You” - Mariah Carey Featuring Joe
“Amazed” - Lonestar
“What a Girl Wants” - Christina Aguilera
    2001 - NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr., was killed in a crash during the Daytona 500 race. 
    2001 - FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested and accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. 
    2003 - In South Korea, at least 120 people were killed when a man lit a fire on a subway train. 
    2006 - American Shani Davis won the men's 1,000-meter speed skating in Turin. He was the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history.
    2010 – Wikipedia published the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the soldier now known as Chelsea Manning.
    2012 - Pope Benedict XVI announced seven new saints, including American saint Kateri Tekakwitha, and appointed 22 new cardinals.  Given the name Tekakwitha, baptized as Catherine and informally known as Lily of the Mohawks (1656 – April 17, 1680), she was an Algonquin-Mohawk laywoman. Born in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, on the south side of the Mohawk River, she contracted smallpox in an epidemic; her family died and her face was scarred. She converted to Roman Catholicism at age nineteen, when she was renamed Kateri, baptized in honor of Saint Catherine of Sienna. Refusing to marry, she left her village and moved for the remaining 5 years of her life to the Jesuit mission village of Kahnawake, south of Montreal.  Tekakwitha took a devout vow of perpetual virginity. Upon her death at the age of 24, minutes later witnesses said her scars vanished and her face appeared radiant and beautiful. Known for her virtue of chastity and mortification of the flesh, as well as being shunned by her tribe for her religious conversion to Catholicism, she is the fourth Native American to be venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the first to be canonized.
    2014 - Stock shares of automaker Tesla rise above $200 after reports that Apple, Inc. executives met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2013 to potentially discuss an acquisition
    2014 – Coca-Cola Company announces that it plans to reduce its costs by $1 billion over the next few years in an effort to counteract slowing demand. 
    2020 - Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy amid hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits, suspending those claims.