FDIC Fines Umpqua Bank $1.6 Million
for Federal Financial Pacific subsidiary dba Financial Pacific

The $30 billion-asset bank, which is owned by Umpqua Holdings Corp., was fined $1.8 million by the FDIC and voluntarily paid an additional $1.6 million in restitution to nearly 17,000 customers. The agency announced the settlement on Monday.

Financial Pacific Leasing, a subsidiary specializing in commercial equipment financing, charged undisclosed fees to borrowers with past-due accounts, according to the FDIC.

The FDIC press release stated, “The FDIC determined that certain collection practices at FinPac were unfair and deceptive. FinPac engaged in excessive and sequential collection calls to customers, even when customers requested that FinPac stop these calls. FinPac also disclosed information about the customers’ debts to third parties. Lastly, FinPac advised borrowers FinPac would report delinquencies on commercial debt to the consumer reporting agencies, when its policy and practice was not to report such delinquencies to the consumer reporting agencies.

“Umpqua Bank agreed to the issuance of the Order without admitting or denying these violations.  In addition, the Bank voluntarily paid restitution totaling approximately $1,628,000 to the 16,902 customers who were charged the undisclosed collection fees.”

In the formal agreement, “The FDIC also determined that certain collection practices at FinPac were unfair and deceptive. FinPac engaged in excessive and sequential collection calls to customers, even when customers requested that FinPac stop these calls.  FinPac also disclosed information about the customers’ debts to third parties. Lastly, FinPac advised borrowers FinPac would report delinquencies on commercial debt to the consumer reporting agencies, when its policy and practice was not to report such delinquencies to the consumer reporting agencies.

"Umpqua Bank agreed to the issuance of the Order without admitting or denying these violations.  In addition, the Bank voluntarily paid restitution totaling approximately $1,628,000 to the 16,902 customers who were charged the undisclosed collection fees."

"IT IS ORDERED that by reason of the violations of law and/or regulations set forth herein, and after taking into account the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the financial resources and good faith of the Bank, the gravity of the violations, the history of previous violations by the Bank, and such other matters as justice may require, including the severity of the risks to and losses by consumers, pursuant to Section 8(i)(2) of the FDI Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1818(i)(2), a penalty of$1,800,000 is assessed against the Bank. The Bank shall pay such amount to the Treasury of the United States.

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bank is prohibited from seeking or accepting indemnification from any third party for the civil money penalty assessed and paid in this matter."

"The provisions of this ORDER TO PAY CIVIL MONEY PENALTY shall not bar, estop, or otherwise prevent the FDIC or any other federal or state agency or department from taking any other action against the Bank or any of the Bank’s current or former institution-affiliated parties, as that term is defined in Section 3(u) of the FDI Act, 312 U.S.C. § 1813(u)"

https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2021/pr21042a.pdf

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John Boettigheimer Comments on CV Holdings
and Centra Story in Monday's Leasing News

John Boettigheimer
President, Centra Leasing (Jan. 2009)
President, Pioneer Capital (1983 – 2009)

The story in Monday's Leasing News centered on a press release form CV Holdings regarding investments in Centra, certain mortgages, but primarily in VenSource portfolio problems.

It was noted in the press release, "On March 16, 2021, Centra closed its $58,375,000 term securitization with an institutional investor. The Company used its proceeds from this securitization to pay down its line of credit and to support future originations and business operations. Concurrent with the securitization, the debt facility was decreased to $20,000,000 and the maturity was extended to July 1, 2021. The Company is currently negotiating a potential renewal of the debt facility.

“Centra continued to originate new business throughout the year while certain of its competitors stopped or sharply reduced originations. As a result, Centra believes it has been able to originate high-quality assets at elevated yields. As of March 31, 2021, Centra had closed on transactions totaling approximately $118,300,000 since inception and had an active backlog of greater than $13,800,000 of approved transactions.”

The press release was received on Mother's Day, thus we requested a statement on Monday from John Boettigheimer, head of Centra Funding and 4 Hour Funding:

"As noted in the press release, the liquidation preference of preferred stock of our parent company, CV Holdings, has grown substantially relative to the common stock. While I can’t comment on possible future developments with respect to CV Holdings’ common stock, CV’s preferred stockholder is highly supportive of Centra, based on Centra’s rapid growth and increasing profitability, and expects to make substantial additional investment in Centra’s business.

"Our recent securitization was a validation of Centra’s progress. Centra is cementing its position as the place American small business owners go when they have time-sensitive equipment financing needs. In recent months, more than half of our fundings were made within 30 days of receiving the initial request, a level of efficiency we believe is unmatched in the industry. We look forward to continuing to grow and develop Centra."

Thanked for his comment, he responded, “Kit, business has just been phenomenal in 2021. Our growth is amazing right now. I have never been as bullish as I am currently on our market and our position in the market.“

John Boettigheimer
Centra Funding, LLC / 4 Hour Funding, LLC
1400 Preston Road, Suite 115
Plano, Texas  75093
(888) 779-4629

Help Wanted Ads

 

 

 

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Next Level of Success

By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Successful originators in the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry are constantly asking:

• Where can I go to get more business?
• What industry should I pursue?
• Where is the next opportunity?

All of these are great questions and the answers may be closer than you think. Too often, originators try to pursue new business opportunities in distant spheres when the greatest opportunities are right in front of them. They try to reinvent everything when a minor tweak will produce double or triple the production. Every industry, territory, and equipment sector have multiple opportunities which will keep an originator busy for an entire career. Success is more quickly derived in the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry when an originator goes deep rather than wide. Below are a few suggestions:

• Have you connected all the dots? Are there additional opportunities with your current vendors and end-users?

Top originators maximize every relationship.

• Do you ask for referrals on a daily basis? Referrals produce additional business which have connections to your current data base. Referrals are a perfect example of leveraging your current business.
• Do you know what trends are affecting your current clients, industries, and equipment types? Strong originators are ahead of the curve. They are leaders rather than followers. Leaders find new opportunities because they have "player" status within their niches.

During these robust times, top originators are maximizing their positions within the market and their personal incomes by aggressively pursuing those opportunities right in front of them every day.

Order via Amazon: https://www.createspace.com/5355516

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

 

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Despite the Covid-19 pandemic causing the global auto industry to shrink 16 percent, electric vehicle sales actually posted strong growth during the crisis. A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that the number of electric cars, vans, trucks and buses is expected to grow from 11 million this year to 145 million by 2030. By the end of the decade, the figure could be as high as 230 million if governments accelerate their efforts to reach climate targets.

A record three million electric cars were registered globally last year, 41 percent higher than in 2019. That trend has continued into 2021 with 2.5 as many registrations recorded as during the same period last year. The growth is being driven by strong sales in Europe and China with 450,000 and 500,000 EVs sold, respectively. The United States has also experienced a doubling of its sales compared to the first quarter of last year.

In 2020, customers spent $120 billion on electric car purchases and governments supported them with $14 billion in subsidies, a 25 percent increase on 2019. This was driven by strong incentives in Europe that have seen the continent surpass China as the world's largest EV market for the first time.

The figures reported by the IEA are set to have major repercussions for the global oil market with millions of barrels set to be wiped out. There are expected to be two million barrels of petrol and diesel fewer per day by 2030 with the equivalent of 120 million tons of carbon dioxide saved. If governments raise their goals in line with global climate targets, 3.5 million barrels could be removed by the end of the decade.

By Niall McCarthy, Statista

New York to Generate More Than $240 Million
Annually in Cannabis Sales by 2024

According to a recent budget analysis by New York’s comptroller, projections show that the state will be raking in more than $240 million in annual cannabis revenue in the near future. For the first year of marijuana sales, New York is expected to bring in only $20 million in fee and tax collections. This is part of a $26.7 billion evaluation in new revenues that the state is expected to bring in for its 2021/2022 fiscal year, under a budget that the state legislature approved in April.

The analysis notes that the new revenue sources with the most substantial fiscal impacts are the corporate and personal income tax increases, despite increased receipts occurring from the legalization of sports betting and cannabis. It adds that while the former revenue sources are only short-term, marijuana represents a long-term revenue opportunity.

The report by Thomas DiNapoli, the state’s comptroller, also highlights that the cannabis tax revenue is projected to grow from the $20 million in tax revenue generated for the 2021–2022 fiscal year to over $110 million for the 2022–2023 fiscal year, just over $150 million for the 2023/2024 fiscal year and more than $240 million for the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

The analysis states that the continuous economic recovery of the state has improved predictions, with tax collections outdoing expectations. It adds that New York will benefit from online sports betting, the legalization of recreational cannabis, and new revenues from increases in tax and federal aid, which brings the total down to about $26.7 billion for the state’s 2021–2022 fiscal year.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had, in March, signed a bill to legalize adult-use marijuana. As stipulated in the bill, retail shops will be launched after the first retail recreational sales begin. In addition, once home cultivation becomes legal, the bill notes that people could store up to five pounds of cannabis at home.

The bill also stipulated that the taxes collected from cannabis sales would be used to cover the program’s implementation costs as well as be utilized for public education and drug treatment to back community reinvestments and be diverted to schools via the state lottery fund.

Source:  Cannabisnewswire.com

 
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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shift in U.S. rental patterns as some residents in expensive areas pack up and move to either the suburbs or smaller cities. The increasingly widespread adoption of remote working has made that possible in many cases and it has resulted in rent prices falling in some of the America's most notorious rental hotspots such as the Bay Area and Manhattan.

ApartmentGuide's latest Rent Report found that San Francisco experienced the largest decrease in its average rental price for a one-bedroom apartment over the past year. Remote working is a realistic option for many people in America's leading tech hub and many have been keen to relocate in order to escape its exorbitant rents. ApartmentGuide's analysis found that the average rental price for a one-bedroom apartment declined 45 percent between March 2020 and March 2021 while the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment also fell 24 percent.

Chesapeake in Virginia, located in proximity to prominent naval installations, had the second largest year-over-year decline in rent at 29.4 percent while Long Beach (-27.0 percent), Seattle (-18.9 percent) and Los Angeles (-16.0 percent) also posted large declines. Those trends are not evident everywhere, however, and some U.S. cities are reporting a spike. Kansas City experienced the largest rise in rent for a one-bedroom apartment over the past year at 33.5 percent.

By Niall McCarthy, Statista

 

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

Two New Business Lines of Credit Created by
Signature Bank's Specialty Finance Subsidiary

MELVILLE, N.Y. … Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), a New York-based, full-service commercial bank, announced today its wholly owned specialty finance subsidiary, Signature Financial LLC, launched two business lines, Vendor Industrial Finance (VIF) and Dealer Lease & Rental (DLR).

VIF targets manufacturers, vendors and dealers who provide finance and leasing options for their customers. VIF focuses primarily on the machine tool, construction, materials handling and commercial transportation sectors as well as information technology and healthcare vendors.

The DLR platform provides funding for franchised truck dealerships nationwide who cater to middle-market businesses requiring trucks and trailers to deliver their goods and services.

Over the years, since its 2012 founding, Signature Financial and its affiliate Signature Public Funding, have grown to more than $5 billion in assets across a variety of specialty commercial and public finance niches. Both new platforms complement Signature Financial’s well-established business model and other business channels, including direct and indirect equipment leasing and finance; transportation funding, franchise finance and commercial marine lending. Signature Public Funding provides tax-exempt leasing and financing to municipalities, school districts and other government entities across the country.

To head VIF, Signature Financial named Michael Mehosky to the newly created post of Vice President and Director. In this capacity, he is responsible for oversight of the platform, including building and managing the team. With 20 years of commercial equipment experience, Mehosky joins from Peoples United Bank, where he served as Senior Vice President and Sales Manager for its Capital & Leasing division. In this position, he managed the Vendor Industrial sales team and established specific customer programs and processes. Other industry-related roles include those at Siemens Financial Services, Inc., GE Capital and M&T Bank.

Geoff Petersen currently Vice President and Managing Underwriter for Signature Financial, has been appointed to lead risk management for the new VIF team. Petersen has been with Signature Financial since 2013 as a senior underwriter and portfolio manager. He was dedicated to handling a wide range of industries in support of both the National Intermediary and Capital Markets business channels. Prior to joining Signature Financial, he spent nine years at GE Capital, supporting vendor-driven businesses, primarily in the healthcare and transportation spaces. Peterson began his career at Associates/Citi Capital where he advanced into roles of increasing responsibility during six-year tenure.

Concurrent with the launch, two Executive Sales Officers (ESOs) were also named to support VIF: Kevin McDonald and Joseph Tomkiewicz, who will each originate and manage relationships across the full spectrum of equipment manufacturers, vendors and dealers.

Kevin McDonald joins from TIAA Bank, where he was a business development manager for multiple equipment verticals. He also held sales and finance roles at Makino Capital Services, Siemens Financial Services and Wells Fargo Equipment Finance. Tomkiewicz honed his equipment finance expertise in several roles of increasing responsibility during the past 10 years at Hyster-Yale Group, a leading manufacturer of material handling equipment. Prior to joining Signature Financial, he was Director, Industry Strategy and Solutions, handling client relationships with responsibility for the North American business.

Leading the DLR platform is Michael Jones, Vice President and Executive Sales Manager (ESM) for the National Direct Equipment business division of Signature Financial. Jones will oversee sales, operations and business development of the new division. Jones also serves as an ESM for the National Direct Equipment business channel of Signature Financial, covering the Southwest territory. Jones originally joined Signature Financial in 2015 from BancorpSouth Equipment Finance. Jones’ 22-year finance sales career has included originating business through franchised truck dealerships under programs such as the Idea lease program providing him with extensive experience to lead the DLR business.

Furthermore, as Jones begins to build out the DLR team, Joel Ruf was appointed ESO and Vice President for the new DLR business. In this position, Ruf will be responsible for national sales and business development. Ruf brings more than 20 years of related experience to Signature Financial. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President, Dealer National Accounts at Wells Fargo, a post to which he was promoted to from Vice President, Programs Finance. In the national accounts role, Ruf was instrumental in starting and ultimately growing their dealer direct lending business to more than $1 billion in assets.

Jeffrey Utech joined Signature Financial from TCF Bank and was named to the role of Vice President and Managing Underwriter. In this capacity, he will focus on the DLR business line. At TCF as well in prior roles spanning 15 years at BMO Harris Bank, GE Credit Corp. and Navistar Financial, Utech spent most of his career honing his expertise in transportation lending. In addition to his specialized underwriting skill set, Utech brings deep experience in portfolio management and operations related to the truck dealership leasing and rental niche.

Walter Rabin, President and Chief Executive Officer at Signature Financial, explained, “The launch of these platforms marks deeper market expansion for Signature Financial. The target clients across both of these new business lines complement our existing client base, and we are eager to bring our service-oriented, client-centric approach model to these sectors,” explained

“We are confident in the seasoned, entrepreneurial leadership we have put in place to head these new initiatives. The experience of these veteran professionals further cements new opportunities for Signature Financial and Signature Bank as we look to introduce our additional services and continue to grow the business nationally,” Rabin concluded.

Joseph J. DePaolo, President and Chief Executive Officer at Signature Bank, noted, “Signature Financial has grown into the 15th largest bank-based lender in the specialty equipment finance space, a feat achieved in less than nine years since its inception. Our decision to enter into and expand within these areas speaks volumes to Signature Financial’s successes to date and bodes well for Signature Bank. We have deliberately diversified over the years to capture significant market opportunities, and our specialty finance arm has distinguished the Bank in the marketplace.”

Petersen is based in Signature Financial’s Melville headquarters.  Mehosky will be based in Hedgesville, WV with McDonald in Charleston, SC and Tomkiewicz in Greenville, NC. Both Jones and Ruf will work from satellite offices in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Utech is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.

About Signature Bank and Signature Financial LLC

Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), member FDIC, is a New York-based, full-service commercial bank with 37 private client offices throughout the metropolitan New York area, including those in Connecticut as well as California and North Carolina. Through its single-point-of-contact approach, the Bank’s private client banking teams primarily serve the needs of privately owned businesses, their owners and senior managers.

 The Bank has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Signature Financial, LLC, provides equipment finance and leasing; and, Signature Securities Group Corporation, a licensed broker-dealer, investment adviser and member FINRA/SIPC, offers investment, brokerage, asset management and insurance products and services.

Signature Financial LLC is dedicated to equipment finance and leasing, transportation financing, franchise finance and commercial marine finance. Signature Financial and its affiliate, Signature Public Funding, operate from 45 locations in 23 states.

Since commencing operations in May 2001, Signature Bank reached $85.4 billion in assets as of March 31, 2021. With $74.0 billion in deposits at first quarter-end 2021, Signature Bank placed 22nd on S&P Global’s list of the largest banks in the U.S., based on deposits. Signature Bank was the first FDIC-insured bank to launch a blockchain-based digital payments platform. Signet™ allows commercial clients to make real-time payments in U.S. dollars, 24/7/365 and was also the first solution to be approved for use by the NYS Department of Financial Services.

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

Labrador Retriever
Las Vegas, Nevada  Adopt-a-Dog

Buddy

ID# HAV-A-4697
Male
Age: 6 years
Location: Oldies But Goodies, Living Room
Adoption Fee: $105

Hearts Alive Village
1750 S. Rainbow Blvd #4
Las Vegas, NV 89146
702.870.0065

Please note many animals are in foster homes and appointments must be made with foster parent by filling application.

We offer trial placements for pets to ensure that they are in the best home possible and are the best fit for your family and lifestyle. If renting, approval of landlord is required.

If you would like to meet Buddy, please fill out an application so we can contact you.

Apply for Adoption:
https://heartsalivevillage.org/adoptable-dogs/#sl_embed&page=shelterluv_wrap_1601332410943%2Fmatchme%2Fadopt%2FHAV-A-4697%3Fspecies%3D%26intakeType%3D

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White House enlists McDonald's
to promote vaccines

The Biden administration has enlisted McDonald’s for its multimillion-dollar vaccine awareness campaign, “We Can Do This.” The fast-food giant will dedicate inventory on its Times Square billboard to the effort and beginning in July will feature the campaign’s slogan on its McCafé coffee cups and on materials used for its McDelivery home delivery service.

The campaign messaging directs viewers to vaccines.gov, which includes a tool that helps people locate where they can get shots and other educational information.

Full Story:
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marketing-media/white-house-enlists-mcdonalds-promote-vaccines

News Briefs---

Atalaya Capital Management Takes Minority Stake
    in Dakota Financial
https://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/business/atalaya-capital-management-takes-minority-stake-in-dakota-financial/article_47920fce-58dd-526a-ab14-4665d1a00dac.html

Construction momentum at 12-year high,
     despite continued challenges
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-momentum-at-12-year-high-despite-continued-challenges/599935/

Grocery stores thrived during the pandemic,
    but what's next?
https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/subscriber/neman-grocery-stores-thrived-during-the-pandemic-but-whats-next/article_d4fd2583-6788-51b7-a8fc-9c1e45e98e5f.html

Chipotle to Hire 20,000,
    and Boost Wages
https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/chipotle-cmg-raise-employee-wages-115011899.html

Federal judge denies NRA attempt to declare bankruptcy
    in win for New York state attorney general
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nra-bankruptcy-decision/2021/05/11/9f67509a-b106-11eb-9059-d8176b9e3798_story.html

Gas stations in the Southeast report shortages that analysts
      says the result of panic-buying
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-gas-shortage-pipeline-cyberattack-20210511-mviowdfbmbeghj3rd2pfwwtywm-story.html

Disney Store to shut 60 locations
     and focus on online sales
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Disney-Store-to-shut-60-locations-and-focus-on-15999011.php

Element Reports First Quarter Results Reflecting
   Solid Progress in Advancing Strategic Priorities
https://www.elementfleet.com/binaries/content/assets/elementfleet/newsroom/efn_1q21-results_news-release.pdf

‘Staggering’ Legal Fees in Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Case
     Many are charging more than $1,000 an hour.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/us/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-legal-fees.html

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You May Have Missed---

Want to work remotely forever?
    How to arrange it
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/10/how-to-negotiate-a-permanent-work-from-home-arrangement.html

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Sports Briefs---

A’s to begin exploring move to another city
    while waiting on downtown ballpark deal
https://link.sfchronicle.com/view/53b89947fdd5ac691f0005b9e6dop.4tn/0f63612b

Jacksonville Jaguars plan to sign Tim Tebow
     in former QB's NFL comeback, per report
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/jaguars/2021/05/10/tim-tebow-jacksonville-jaguars-plan-sign-ex-qb-nfl-comeback/5025318001/

Brett Favre hasn’t repaid $600,000 of $1.1 million
      he promised from Mississippi welfare fund
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/05/10/brett-favre-hasnt-repaid-mississippi-welfare-funds/5018602001/

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California Nuts Briefs---

Flush With Cash, California Set to Send
   Billions in Rebates to Taxpayers
https://www.kqed.org/news/11872910/flush-with-cash-california-set-to-send-billions-in-rebates-to-taxpayers

Gov. Newsom proposes $12 billion
    to house California’s homeless
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-05-11/california-governor-proposes-12b-to-house-states-homeless?utm_id=28935&sfmc_id=16466922b

California’s new Prop. 19 property-transfer law
    spurs flood of family filings
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/article/californias-new-prop-19-property-transfer-law-spurs-flood-of-family-filin/

California justice department to build racial justice bureau
    as reports of hate crimes climb
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article251323243.html#storylink=mainstage_card4

Solar manufacturer plans hundreds of jobs in San Jose
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/11/solar-maker-hundreds-jobs-san-jose-green-energy-economy-real-estate/

Sierra snowpack is already 'wiped out' this year,
     adding to California drought and fire worries
https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Sierra-snowpack-is-already-wiped-out-this-16169301.php

Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding
    Silicon Valley Bank Of Over $3M
https://patch.com/california/losgatos/man-pleads-guilty-defrauding-silicon-valley-bank-over-3m

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“Gimme that Wine”

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

Remembering pinot pioneer David Bruce
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/10/remembering-pinot-pioneer-david-bruce/

Wine of the week: Husch Vineyards,
     2020 Mendocino County, Sauvignon Blanc
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/wine-of-the-week-husch-vineyards-2020-mendocino-county-sauvignon-blanc/

Production to cease at Sebastiani Winery
    in downtown Sonoma, California
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/lifestyle/production-to-cease-at-sebastiani-winery-in-downtown-sonoma/

Paso Robles Wine County virtual auction
   begins this week and& Runs until May 16, 7pm
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-wine-county-virtual-auction-begins-this-week/126012

Exclusive First Look: Newton Vineyard Rebuilds
    After 2020 Wildfires
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/exclusive-first-look-newton-vineyard-rebuilds-after-2020-wildfires

What Gallo's new layoffs at Clos du Bois winery reveal
    about the future of California's cheapest wines
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/What-Gallo-s-new-layoffs-at-Clos-du-Bois-winery-16166799.php

Sonoma-Cutrer Introduces Winemaker's Release:
    40th Anniversary Chardonnay
https://www.winebusiness.com/newreleases/?go=getArticle&dataId=245331

So You’re Thinking About Joining a Wine Club ...    
    By Eric Asimov. New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/dining/drinks/wine-clubs.html

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

    1780 - Charleston, SC, fell to the British in the US Revolutionary War after a two-month siege. Three Continental Navy frigates (Boston, Providence, and Ranger) were captured and one American frigate (Queen of France) was sunk to prevent capture.
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html
/Our_Country_vol_2/revolution_bcb.html
http://www.treefarmtapes.com/catalog/product.asp?productid=7726
    1784 – The Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War and extending diplomatic recognition to the United States, went into effect.
    1812 - John Langdon of New Hampshire was nominated to run by the Republican Party, but turned it down. He had 64 votes to James Madison’s 82. A very popular man in his time, he refused the job due to his age and health. A second caucus was held and Elbridge Gerry was nominated.
http://www.seacoastnh.com/framers/jlangdon.html
http://www.lexrex.com/bios/jlangdon.htm
    1846 - The Donner Party of pioneers departed Springfield, IL for California on what became a year-long journey of hardship and cannibalism. Led by George Donner and James F. Reed, they set out in a wagon train, were delayed by a series of mishaps and mistakes, and spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, slowed by following a new route that crossed the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake Desert. The rugged terrain and difficulties encountered while traveling along the Humboldt River in present-day Nevada resulted in the loss of many cattle and wagons and caused splits within the group.  Rescuers from California did not arrive until the middle of February, 1847, almost four months after the wagon train had become trapped. Of the 87 members of the party, 48 survived to reach California.
    1847 - Mormon pioneer William Clayton, the personal secretary to the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, invented the first odometer while crossing the plains in a covered wagon. Previously, mileage was calculated by counting the revolutions of a rag tied to a spoke of a wagon wheel. He is also known for his journal entries about the Mormons' trek west to the Salt Lake Valley. When introduced to plural marriage, he was reluctant, but eventually became one of its most enthusiastic proponents, marrying ten women and fathering forty-two children.
http://www.signaturebooks.com/clayton.htm
    1848 - Gold Fever was begun by Sam Brannan in San Francisco when he waved a bottle of gold dust and shouted "Gold! Gold!” He went on to receive gold as payment for goods that he sold in his store at Sutter's Fort. During this period, Calistoga Hot Springs resort was developed by then successful pioneer, promoter, publisher, entrepreneur, and California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan. The “resort” exists today: http://www.brannancottageinn.com/ There are many fine wineries in the area: http://www.brannancottageinn.com/
As a side note, most of the prospectors did very poorly. The most money was made by the merchants and those that provided food, goods, and supplies to those who were prospecting for gold. There were only a few who profited, some of it stolen, too. The most money was made from the discovery of silver in Nevada. Sutter, where gold was originally found, died a pauper, primarily from the prospectors who ruined his ranch and destroyed a lot of his land looking to get rich.
See: “American History Revised: 200 Startling Facts That Never Made It into the Textbooks,” by Morris Jr., Seymour
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product
/0307587606/ref=oh_details_o02_s02_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    1863 - The first Confederate ship to surrender to the Union was the Planter, a 313-ton side-wheel steamer serving as an armed dispatch boat. It was surrendered off the harbor in Charleston, SC, by Robert Smalls, an African-American slave who was its pilot. He and the African-American crew took charge of the ship while the captain was ashore. Flying the Confederate flag, they saluted with cannon fire the forts on their voyage northward. When out of reach of ammunition, Smalls hoisted a white flag of truce and turned over the ship to the U.S.S. Onward. In appreciation, a special act of Congress was passed on May 30, 1982, awarding Smalls and his partners one-half the value of the Planter and its cargo.
    1864 - The heaviest action of the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia, began at dawn, when Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, with 20,000 men, attacked a Confederate salient. Creating a gap, Hancock’s men captured some 4000 men and 20 large guns. In another part of the Battle of the Wilderness, the two great generals met again. After Hancock made this gap, Lee had positioned his troops in breastworks (a temporary, quickly constructed fortification, usually breast high--a popular war move seen often in Mathew Brady photographs) along a horseshoe formation utilizing the natural features of the landscape. During Grant's attack on the very strong and fortified position, both sides suffered losses of more than 12,000 in what became known as "the Bloody Angle." Lee was forced to use every available man to protect the position and so ordered his troops to pull back during the night. Neither side won and both sides suffered heavy losses, perhaps a lesson well remembered by General Lee and General Grant, who was in favor of a different reconstruction of the South than transpired, even when president. They were to meet for the surrender less than a year from this battle. 
    1864 – One of the Confederacy’s best, if not the best, generals, J.E.B. Stuart, died from a gunshot wound suffered the day before at the Battle of Yellow Tavern near Richmond.  He is also considered to be one of the greatest cavalry commanders in American history.   
    1869 - The first female news reporter at a political convention was Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, one of the editors of the New Covenant, who covered the Republican National Convention, May 12-18, 1860, at the Chicago Wigwam, Chicago, IL.
http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-00415.html?from=../15/15-00663.html&from_nm=Stone%2C%20Lucy
    1883 - Hazel Lucille Harrison (d. 1969) birthday, LaPorte, IN.  African-American concert pianist who made her debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1904. She was blocked from concerts with major American orchestras because of her race and sex. Her technique and ability was praised for years in Europe. Her mother, a hairdresser and manicurist, was the daughter of slaves who followed the underground railway to the north.
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1930/
A_pure_keyboard_artist_Hazel_Harrison
http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page.cfm?ID=5354
    1893 - Georgia Lee Witt Lusk (d. 1971) birthday, Carlsbad, NM. Educator, state government official, and congressional representative is known as the first lady of New Mexico. In 1924, she was elected superintendent of schools in her home county and elected superintendent of public instruction for the state in 1930. She moved on to the U.S. Congress in 1946, and was a member of the War Claims Commission (1949-1953). Lusk was instrumental in getting free textbooks in all the New Mexico schools.
    1902 – By the dawn of the twentieth century, trouble was clearly brewing in the nation’s coal mines. Indeed, miners had long toiled in foul conditions for paltry pay; moreover, managers often forced workers to rent space in company houses and to purchase items at company-owned stores. Duly fed up with these conditions, miners across the country held a number of strikes during the later years of the nineteenth century. The mine companies, now largely run by America’s imperious rail barons, steadfastly ignored their workers’ pleas. The situation came to something of a boil as union chief John Mitchell raised the call for a nationwide strike; 140,000 members of the United Mine Workers heeded his charge. The ensuing strike dragged on for five months, as mine owners, firmly anticipating that the Federal government would rush to their side, smugly refused to acknowledge the coal union, or to enter negotiations. Meanwhile, coal prices skyrocketed, fraying the public’s collective nerves and inciting calls for the government to negotiate a settlement. Though the Constitution was silent regarding intervention by the White House, President Teddy Roosevelt grew impatient and stepped in to speed up the negotiations. The mine owners rebuffed these efforts, prompting the president to threaten to hand control of the mines to the Army. Roosevelt’s gambit proved effective and the mine owners finally sat down for a serious round of negotiations. By October of 1902, the strikers had returned to work and a newly formed Commission of Arbitration had kicked off a probe into the conditions at the nation’s mines. That following spring, the Commission handed down its findings, which included recommendations of pay hikes and reduced hours for workers, and that mine owners recognize the coal union.
    1903 - President Theodore Roosevelt’s visit to San Francisco is caught on film by H.J. Miles. [Memory.local.gov has video playback, which is needed to see black and white silent film]. The president turns away from the camera at the closet point but to see the people and the times is quite interesting (Note: the date on the film is the date it was released, not the actual day of May 12):
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/papr:@field(NUMBER+@band
(lcmp003+m3a22730))
(lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/may12.html )
Two days after the Market Street procession, Roosevelt was filmed again as he dedicated Dewey Monument in the city's Union Square. The monument, which is still in place, commemorates the victory of Admiral George Dewey and the American fleet over Spanish forces at Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War. It is also a tribute to the sailors of the U.S. Navy. Called actuality films, short documentaries such as these of Roosevelt, appeared in nickelodeons throughout America alongside policemen and firemen in action, buildings under construction, and new inventions at work. The themes and conventions of these short films were borrowed from nineteenth century commercial photography. Early audiences, while amazed by the moving images, were very familiar with the subject matter. What is perhaps most interesting about these two actuality films is the view they offer of a city devastated by a massive earthquake and fire just three years after the president's 1903 visit.
    1907 - American actress Katherine Houghton Hepburn (d. 2003) was born at Hartford, Ct. Nominated for 12 Oscars over the course of her career, she won four times: for 1933’s “Morning Glory,” 1967’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” 1968’s “The Lion in Winter” and 1981’s “On Golden Pond.” She is best remembered for her on-and off-screen pairing with Spencer Tracy, with whom she made nine films. Hepburn famously shunned the Hollywood publicity machine and refused to conform to society's expectations of women. She was outspoken, assertive, athletic, and wore trousers before it was fashionable for women to do so. She married once, as a young woman, but thereafter lived independently. A 26-year affair with Tracy was hidden from the public. With her unconventional lifestyle and the independent characters she brought to the screen, Hepburn came to epitomize the "modern woman" in 20th-century America, and is remembered as an important cultural figure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Hepburn
    1918 – Birthday of cosmetics tycoon Mary Kay Ash (d. 2001), Hot Wells, TX.  Ash worked for Stanley Home Products.  Frustrated when passed over for a promotion in favor of a man that she had trained, Ash retired in 1963 and intended to write a book to assist women in business. The book turned into a business plan for her ideal company, and in the summer of 1963, Mary Kay Ash and her new husband, George Hellenbeck, planned to start Mary Kay Cosmetics. However, one month before Mary Kay and George started Beauty by Mary Kay, as the company was then called, George died of a heart attack.  One month after George's death on September 13, 1963 when she was 45 years old, with a $5,000 investment from her oldest son, Ben Rogers, Jr. and with her young son, Richard Rogers taking her late husband's place, Ash started Mary Kay Cosmetics.  As of 2014, Mary Kay Cosmetics has more than 3 million consultants worldwide and wholesale volume in excess of 3 billion. Mary Kay herself was honored as a leading female entrepreneur in American history.
    1925 - Birthday of Hall of Fame baseball player, former coach and manager, Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra (d. 2015), St. Louis, Missouri. He played his entire 19-year baseball career (1946–1965) for the New York Yankees. Berra is one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times and is one of seven managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. As a player, coach, or manager, Berra appeared in 21 World Series and as a player in fourteen World Series, winning ten championships, both of which are records. He established World Series records for the most games (75), at-bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10), singles (49), games caught (63), and catcher putouts (457). In Game 3 of the 1947 World Series, Berra hit the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history, off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca. He served in the US Navy during World War II as a gunner’s mate on the USS Bayfield during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy.
    1926 - Walter Johnson recorded his 400th career win defeating the St. Louis Browns, 7-4.  He and Cy Young are the only Major League pitchers to have won this many games.    
    1928 - Burt Bacharach birthday, Kansas City, MO.  Prolific composer, songwriter, record producer, pianist, and singer who has composed hundreds of popular hit songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, many with lyrics written by Hal David. A six-time Grammy Award winner and three-time Academy Award winner, Bacharach's songs have been recorded by more than 1,000 different artists.  As of 2014, he had written 73 US and 52 UK top 40 hits.  He is considered one of the most important composers of 20th-century popular music.   In 1957, Bacharach and lyricist Hal David met while at the famous Brill Building in New York City, and began their writing partnership.  Soon afterwards, their "Magic Moments" was recorded by Perry Como and reached number 4 in the U.S. Bacharach and David formed a writing partnership in 1963. And Bacharach's career received a boost when singer Jerry Butler asked to record "Make It Easy on Yourself." In 1961, Bacharach discovered singer Dionne Warwick while she was a session accompanist. After agreeing to work with him, she made her professional recording debut and later that year had her first hit, "Don’t Make Me Over."  Bacharach and David then wrote more songs to make use of her singing talents, which led to one of the most successful teams in popular music history. Over the next 20 years, her recordings of his songs sold over 12 million copies, with 38 singles making the charts and 22 in the Top 40. Among the hits were “Walk on By,” "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Alfie," "Say a Little Prayer," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again, and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" Warwick would eventually have more hits during her career than any other female vocalist except Aretha Franklin.  Songs that he co-wrote which have topped the Billboard Top 100 include "The Look of Love" (1967), "This Guy’s in Love With You" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head" (1969), "(They Long to Be)Close to You" (1970), "Arthur’s Theme" (1981), "That’s What Friends Are For" (1986) and "On My Own " (1986).
http://www.bacharachonline.com/bacharach_bio.html
http://rollingstone.com/artists/bio.asp?oid=3155&cf=3155
    1932 - Ten weeks after his abduction, the infant son of Charles Lindbergh, Charles Jr., was found dead in Hopewell, NJ, just a few miles from the Lindbergh home.
    1934 - A great dust bowl storm darkened the skies from Oklahoma east to the Atlantic Coast.
    1942 - The SS Virginia was torpedoed in the mouth of the Mississippi River by the German submarine U-507, losing 27 of her crew of 41.
    1944 – Allied attacks by forces of the US 5th Army makes some progress against the German-held defenses. The French Expeditionary Corps (General Juin) encounters only the German 71st Division along its line and captures Monte Faito. The Polish 2nd Corps is held with heavy losses, north of Cassino. The British 13th Corps establishes two small bridgeheads over the Rapido River, opposite Cassino. The US 2nd Corps, on the western coast of the advance, experiences difficulty advancing.
    1944 - SHEA, CHARLES W., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company F, 350th Infantry. 88th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mount Damiano, Italy, 12 May 1944. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: New York, NY. G.O. No.: 4, 12 January 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, on 12 May 1944, near Mount Damiano, Italy. As 2d Lt. Shea and his company were advancing toward a hill occupied by the enemy, 3 enemy machineguns suddenly opened fire, inflicting heavy casualties upon the company and halting its advance. 2d Lt. Shea immediately moved forward to eliminate these machinegun nests in order to enable his company to continue its attack. The deadly hail of machinegun fire at first pinned him down, but, boldly continuing his advance, 2d Lt. Shea crept up to the first nest. Throwing several hand grenades, he forced the 4 enemy soldiers manning this position to surrender, and disarming them, he sent them to the rear. He then crawled to the second machinegun position, and after a short fire fight forced 2 more German soldiers to surrender. At this time, the third machinegun fired at him, and while deadly small arms fire pitted the earth around him, 2d Lt. Shea crawled toward the nest. Suddenly he stood up and rushed the emplacement and with well-directed fire from his rifle, he killed all 3 of the enemy machine gunners. 2d Lt. Shea's display of personal valor was an inspiration to the officers and men of his company.
    1948 - Rock guitarist and keyboards player Steve Winwood was born in Birmingham, England. He was only 16 when he burst on the British pop music scene as the lead vocalist and organist with the Spencer Davis Group. They had hits with "I'm a Man" and "Gimme Some Lovin'." In 1967, Winwood formed the group Traffic with Dave Mason, Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi, and led that band to the top of the British charts. Traffic lasted only a year, and Winwood then joined Blind Faith, the first rock supergroup. The other members were Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker from Cream and Rick Grech of the group Family. Blind Faith made only one album before breaking up. Traffic reformed for a couple of albums in the 1970's, and since then Steve Winwood has pursued a solo career. His 1980 album "Arc of a Diver" sold a million copies, and his 1987 release "Chronicles" was also a big hit.
    1949 – An early crisis of the Cold War comes to an end when the Soviet Union lifts its 11-month blockade against West Berlin. The blockade had been broken by a massive U.S.-British airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin’s two million citizens. At the end of World War II, Germany was divided into four sectors administered by the four major Allied powers: the USSR, the United States, Britain, and France. Berlin, the German capital, was likewise divided into four sectors, even though it was located deep within the Soviet sector of eastern Germany. The future of Germany and Berlin was a major sticking point in postwar treaty talks, especially after the United States, Britain, and France sought to unite their occupation zones into a single economic zone. In March 1948, the Soviet Union quit the Allied Control Council governing occupied Germany over this issue. In May, the three Western powers agreed to the imminent formation of West Germany, a nation that would exist entirely independent of Soviet-occupied eastern Germany. The three western sectors of Berlin were united as West Berlin, which was to be under the administration of West Germany. On June 20, as a major step toward the establishment of a West German government, the Western powers introduced a new Deutsche Mark in West Germany and West Berlin. The Soviets condemned this move as an attack on the East German currency and on June 24 began a blockade of all rail, road, and water communications between Berlin and the West. The four-power administration of Berlin had ceased with the unification of West Berlin, the Soviets said, and the Western powers no longer had a right to be there. With West Berlin’s food, fuel, and other necessities cut off, the Soviets reasoned, it would soon have to submit to Communist control. Britain and the United States responded by initiating the largest airlift in history, flying 278,288 relief missions to the city during the next 14 months, resulting in the delivery of 2,326,406 tons of supplies. As the Soviets had cut off power to West Berlin, coal accounted for over two-thirds of the material delivered. In the opposite direction, return flights transported West Berlin’s industrial exports to the West. Flights were made around the clock, and at the height of the Berlin airlift, in April 1949, planes were landing in the city every minute. Tensions were high during the airlift, and three groups of U.S. strategic bombers were sent as reinforcements to Britain while the Soviet army presence in eastern Germany increased dramatically. The Soviets made no major effort to disrupt the airlift. As a countermeasure against the Soviet blockade, the Western powers also launched a trade embargo against eastern Germany and other Soviet bloc countries. On May 12, 1949, the Soviets abandoned the blockade, and the first British and American convoys drove through 110 miles of Soviet Germany to reach West Berlin. On May 23, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was formally established. On October 7, the German Democratic Republic, a Communist state, was proclaimed in East Germany. The Berlin airlift continued until September 30, in an effort to build up a year’s supply of essential goods for West Berlin in the event of another Soviet blockade. Another blockade did not occur, but Cold War tensions over Berlin remained high, culminating in the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961.
    1951 - The number one record on America's R&B chart was a song called "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and The Delta Cats. Many Rock historians say that this was the first true Rock and Roll record. Although Brenston sang, played sax and is credited as composer, 'His Delta Cats' were actually Ike Turner and His Kings of Rhythm. 
    1955 - Sam Jones of the Chicago Cubs pitched a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning 4-0. Jones became the first black pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the Majors.
    1955 - Gisele MacKenzie played a singer on the NBC-TV program, "Justice." She introduced her soon-to-be hit song, "Hard to Get." The song went to number four on the "Billboard" pop music chart by September.
    1955 - Passengers crowded in to ride the last run of the Third Avenue elevated, "The El," in New York City. The way-above-ground train trip down memory lane went from Chinatown to The Bronx.
    1956 - The Sun Record Company in Memphis ran an ad in the music trade papers announcing the first record by what was termed "one of the truly great talent finds." The artist was Johnny Cash, and the record was "I Walk the Line."
    1956 - Top Hits
“Heartbreak Hotel”/”I Was the One” - Elvis Presley
“Standing on the Corner” - The Four Lads
“The Wayward Wind” - Gogi Grant
“Blue Suede Shoes” - Carl Perkins
    1957 - A.J. Foyt earned his first auto racing victory in Kansas City, Missouri. He went on to become a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 - in 1961, 1964, 1967 and 1977.
    1958 - Link Wray's guitar instrumental "Rumble" first appears on American music charts. Even though it has no lyrics whatsoever, the song was banned by many US radio stations who feared the title would promote teen violence. Despite the boycott, the song would still rise to #16 and sell over a million copies. Link would follow it with a tune called "Jack the Ripper." 
    1958 - The Everly Brothers enjoy their second Billboard chart topper, "All I Have To Do Is Dream," which will also rise to number one in the UK in July. 
    1958 – Willie Mays hit the first grand slam in the history of the San Francisco Giants in 12-3 laugher against the Dodgers. 
    1960 - Frank Sinatra's TV special, “Timex Spectacular,” is broadcast on ABC-TV. Sinatra and Elvis Presley trade hits, Elvis singing "Witchcraft" and Sinatra belting out "Love Me Tender." It will be Presley's last TV appearance for eight years. 
    1962 - Billboard reports last year's most-played jukebox disc was country star Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John." One vote behind was Chubby Checker's "The Twist."
    1963 - When CBS censors tell him he cannot perform his "Talking John Birch Society Blues," Bob Dylan walks out of dress rehearsals for “The Ed Sullivan Show.” When told the tune may be libelous, Dylan refuses to appear on the show. 
    1964 - Top Hits
“Hello Dolly!” - Louis Armstrong
“Do You Want to Know a Secret” - The Beatles
“My Guy” - Mary Wells
“My Heart Skips a Beat” - Buck Owens
    1964 - Barbra Streisand wins the Grammy Award for Best Female Vocalist for “The Barbra Streisand Album.”
    1965 - The Rolling Stones began a two-day recording session at Chess Studios in Chicago, laying down the basic tracks for "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/C/Chess.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/chess_records.htm
    1968 - JACKSON, JOE M., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, 311th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam. Place and date: Kham Duc, Republic of Vietnam, 12 May 1968. Entered service at: Newman, Ga. Born: 14 March 1923, Newman, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Jackson distinguished himself as pilot of a C-123 aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson volunteered to attempt the rescue of a 3-man USAF Combat Control Team from the Special Forces camp at Kham Duc. Hostile forces had overrun the forward outpost and established gun positions on the airstrip. They were raking the camp with small arms, mortars, light and heavy automatic weapons, and recoilless rifle fire. The camp was engulfed in flames and ammunition dumps were continuously exploding and littering the runway with debris. In addition, 8 aircraft had been destroyed by the intense enemy fire and 1 aircraft remained on the runway reducing its usable length to only 2,200 feet. To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, thereby permitting only 1 air strike prior to his landing. Although fully aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, Lt. Col. Jackson elected to land his aircraft and attempt to rescue. Displaying superb airmanship and extraordinary heroism, he landed his aircraft near the point where the combat control team was reported to be hiding. While on the ground, his aircraft was the target of intense hostile fire. A rocket landed in front of the nose of the aircraft but failed to explode. Once the combat control team was aboard, Lt. Col. Jackson succeeded in getting airborne despite the hostile fire directed across the runway in front of his aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson's profound concern for his fellowmen, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself, and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1969 - The first transpacific sailboat crossing by a woman was made by Sharon Sites Adams, who sailed from Yokohama, Japan in a 31-foot fiberglass ketch, the “Sea Sharp.” She arrived at San Diego, CA, on July 25, having covered a distance of approximately 5,620 miles in 74 days. 
    1969 - Chevrolet announced that it would discontinue production of the Corvair. The Corvair, which had come under heavy attack in Ralph Nader's 1965 diatribe "Unsafe at Any Speed,” never achieved great success, thanks mostly to its reputation for poor safety. Nader called the Corvair "one of the nastiest-handling cars ever built." The front-wheel drive model was accused of flipping over in moderately severe accident conditions. In the end, over five hundred individual court cases dealing with the Corvair were filed against General Motors. GM never lost one of these cases, although it did settle out of court in many of them. Debate continues over whether the Corvair was actually an unsafe car. Some contend that the front-wheel drive and the heavy horsepower of the car were too much for some drivers to handle. Whatever the case, the public's attitude toward the Big Three car executives changed dramatically during the course of the debate over Nader's book. The insidious tactics used by GM to silence Nader may have been more damaging to the company's reputation than the poor handling of the Corvair. In the end, the debate killed the sale of the Corvair, and its discontinuation followed a 200 percent decrease in the model's sales between 1965 and 1969. Today it is a “collector’s item.”
    1970 - At Wrigley Field in Chicago, only 5,264 fans see Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run but on hand to witness the historic home run is umpire Frank Secory who was also one of the umps in the September 20, 1953 game in which Mr. Cub hit is initial round-tripper. The second-inning line drive off Braves' pitcher Pat Jarvis into the left-field bleachers is retrieved by Atlanta outfielder, Rico Carty after it bounces back onto the field and gives the ball to the Cub first baseman.
    1971 - Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones married Nicaraguan fashion model Bianca Perez Morena de Macias in the town hall of St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Besides other members of the Stones, guests included Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Stephen Stills.
    1972 - Top Hits
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” - Roberta Flack
“I Gotcha” - Joe Tex
“Betcha By Golly, Wow” - The Stylistics
“Grandma Harp” - Merle Haggard
    1972 - A cloudburst dumped 16 inches of rain north of New Braunfels, Texas sending a 30-foot wall of water down Blueders Creek into the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers. The flood claimed 18 lives and caused more than 20 million dollars in damage. 
    1972 - Police clash with 3,000 anti-war protesters in San Francisco.
    1977 - The Eagles earned a gold record for the hit, "Hotel California." The award was the second of three gold record singles for the group. The other million sellers were "New Kid in Town" and "Heartache Tonight." Two number one songs by The Eagles - "Best of My Love" and "One of These Nights" - didn’t quite make the million-seller mark.
    1979 - The new Jefferson Starship, with Mickey Thomas replacing Grace Slick as lead vocalist, debuted at a free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Thomas had been the lead singer on Elvin Bishop's 1976 hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." 
http://www.jeffersonstarship.com/star/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/starshipper.geo/
    1980 - Top Hits
“Call Me” - Blondie
“Ride like the Wind” - Christopher Cross
“Lost in Love” - Air Supply
“Beneath Still Waters” - Emmylou Harris
    1984 - Lionel Richie reaches the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth time with "Hello," a song that was left off his first solo album and was nearly cut from his second LP. The record was also#1 in the UK. 
    1985 - The Jewish conservative movement ordained the first female rabbi, Amy Eilberg at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.
    1985 - Lionel Richie received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Tuskegee Institute in Alabama - his alma mater. Richie had put 14 hits on the pop charts in the 1980s, including one platinum smash, with Diana Ross, "Endless Love" and four gold records ("Truly," "All Night Long," "Hello" and "Say You, Say Me"). All but one song ("Se La") of the 14 chart hits made it to the top ten. 
    1987 - In Washington, actor-director Woody Allen and others testified in Congress against film colorization. Ted Turner, multi-millionaire businessman, was transforming black-and-white films he had purchased to colorize. Many people regarded his alterations of original films as criminal acts.
    1987 - A heat wave persisted in central California. Afternoon highs of 100 degrees at Fresno and 102 degrees at Sacramento were records for the date.
    1988 - Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in the western U.S. Eight cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including Pendleton, OR with a high of 92 degrees and Phoenix, AZ with a reading of 106 degrees
    1988 - Top Hits
“Wishing Well” - Terence Trent D’Arby
“Anything for You” - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
“Pink Cadillac” - Natalie Cole
“Cry, Cry, Cry” - Highway 101
    1989 - Showers and thunderstorms associated with a low pressure system stalled over New York State and drenched Portland, ME with 4.50 inches of rain in 24 hours. Rains of 5 to 7 inches soaked the state of Maine over a four-day period causing $1.3 million damage.
    1990 - Thunderstorms produced severe weather from eastern Texas and the Central Gulf Coast States into Missouri and Illinois. Thunderstorms spawned six tornadoes, including one which injured four persons at Doloroso, MS. Thunderstorms also produced hail three inches in diameter west of Vicksburg, MS, and wind gusts to 83 mph in southern Illinois, north of Vevay Park and at the Coles County Airport. High winds and heavy rain caused 1.6 million dollars crop damage in Calhoun County, IL, and in southeastern Louisiana, Saint Joseph was deluged with eight inches of rain.
    1996 - IBM and Sears signed a deal to sell Prodigy to an investment group called International Wireless. The two companies co-founded the online company in 1984 and invested more than $1 billion in the venture. It was one of the first internet companies. The buyout was welcomed by Prodigy's management, who received an ownership stake in the company
    1998 - Top Hits
“Too Close” - Next 
“My All” - Mariah Carey
“You’re Still The One” - Shania Twain 
“Everybody” [“Backstreet’s Back”] - Backstreet Boys 
    2001 - Striking out 15 Orioles, Boston's Pedro Martinez ties an American League record set in 1968 by Indian hurler Luis Tiant for most strikeouts over two games, 32. The Red Sox fireballer had 17 strikeouts in his last start against the Devil Rays.
    2003 – In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, multiple, simultaneous car bombings at 3 foreign compounds killed 30 people, including 8 Americans and 9 suicide bombers. The next day, Saudi authorities linked Khaled Jehani (29) head of a 19-member al-Qaeda team, to the carnage. Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Faqasi al-Ghamdi, a senior al-Qaeda figure, surrendered Jun 26. On Jan 8, 2004, 8 accomplices were arrested in Switzerland.
    2008 – US immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the largest-ever raid of a workplace, in Postville, IA, arresting nearly 400 immigrants for identity theft and document fraud.
    2013 – The World Health Organization announced that the novel coronavirus, also referred to as Saudi SARS, can be transmitted from person-to-person.
    2014 - 21st Century Fox sought to sell its European pay TYV assets to its BSkyB unit to enhance BSkyB’s standing as a pay TV company while divesting Fox of its non-core business.  The deal awaits regulatory approval.