Archives--November 29, 2005
IFC Credit/PFF Bancorp NorVergence Lease Connection

It may very well be that IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois, is the largest third party lessor to hold NorVergence "Equipment Rental Agreements." Thus the delays in responding to the Federal Trade Commission and other actions, which may include information on the total dollar amount or actual processing of the leases.

It is estimated that IFC Credit holds as much as $15 million in these NorVergence contracts.

CIT Technology Services in offering settlements via the New York and New Jersey Attorneys General office said it involved $8.56 million.

In New Jersey, Wells Fargo had $4.4 million and GE $3.5 million. Later GE Capital agreed to pardon approximately $9 million in payments from 660 small businesses and nonprofits in a dozen states. If these numbers are the top held by third party lessors, then IFC Credit may have purchased the most from NorVergence.

Two very reliable sources informed Leasing News:
"PFF Bank (Pomona, California) gave them a 12-mm Line of which is all NorVergence paper."

Another told us:
“Rudy (Trebels) wanted to do more NorVergence. Ron Smith and Jennifer Klepper were telling them to slow down but they wanted more. I guess you reap what you sow. I also believe some of IFC's VC moneys went to NorVergence also."

Leasing News communicated with the main leasing account executive for PFF Bank, who responded:

"No comment."

"Sources are not always correct."

"IFC is handling all credit as agreed."

In several e-mails, it was stated that IFC Credit President Rudy Trebels was aware that there was only one piece of equipment named in the lease contracts; this was brought to several people's attention in operations. One source says the yield was 25 percent with very good credits, which Rudy Trebels personally found too good to pass up.

"It is sad to see IFC go through this. There are some talented people there: however, the greed of a three people is going to hurt many others," one insider told Leasing News.

Leasing News has attempted to reach Rudy Trebels for a statement, confirmation or denial on information supplied to Leasing News from inside sources.

((FDIC closed down PFF Bancorp, Inc, Pomona, CA (11/08) sold to US Bank, Minneapolis, Minnesota))
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm#pff

((07/09) IFC Credit files Chapter 7, estimated $150 million owing))
http://www.leasingnews.org/list_alpha_new.htm#ifc

Classified Ads---Asset Management

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

Haverhill, MA Started in credit and collections 30 years ago with a private agency. My skills are negotiating with Attorney's, Insurance Companies & Large & small companies. cityofpa@earthlink.net | Resume

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

Santa Barbara CA (will relocate) Experienced Asset Manager of various portfolio's for a bank, broker and leasing company. Utilized specialized remarketing companies to maximize collateral values. Worked remote two years. geoff.taylor@verizon.net | Resume | Reference 1 | Reference 2

 

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

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

Lacking Ability for Bail, Schwartz Spends Thanksgiving in Jail
----Plea Deal in the Works

(mug shot: Essex County Corrections Facility)

Charles K. Schwartz, President of Allied Health Care Services, Orange, New Jersey spent Thanksgiving in Essex County Jail . Evidently the requirement of $2 million in real estate is not available as all his assets must have liens that do not enable him to use any as collateral. His company is closed, employees let go, company assets to be auctioned, AtHome servicing 100 respirators, and the major supplier turned evidence to the FBI which resulted in his indictment of alleged $87 million fraud.

Most of the leasing companies who were taking him to court before the FBI indictment have closed their cases as both Schwartz and his company Allied Health Care Services are in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

As the supplier of the alleged bogus invoices, Bruce Donner of Donner Medical, has been fighting all cases and actions against him, and by the court filing himself has turned "states evidence."

It appears the FBI is working on a arrangement with Schwartz, as the Honorable Madeline Cox Arleo, United States Magistrate Judge, has granted both parties until January 20, 2011: "a continuance of the proceedings in the above-captioned matter for a period of 60 days to allow the parties to conduct plea negotiations and attempt to finalize a plea agreement, and this being the third continuance pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3161(h)(7)(A), so that the parties could attempt to resolve the matter and thereby avoid a possible trial, and the defendant being aware that he has the right to have the matter submitted to a grand jury within thirty days of the date of his arrest pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, 5ection 3161(b), and the defendant having consented to the continuance and waived such right, and for good cause shown, IT IS THE FINDING OF THIS COURT that this action should be continued for the following reasons:

(1) Plea negotiations are currently in progress, and both the United States and the defendant desire additional time to negotiate a plea agreement, which would render any grand jury proceedings and any subsequent trial of this matter unnecessary; and
(2) Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3161(h)(7), the ends of justice served by granting the continuance outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial."

Leasing News has been asked by many if those who had referred the leases were being sued by funders in "representation and warranty" issues. No cases have been brought to Leasing News attention as the issue may center around knowledge of the alleged fraud and lack of "due diligence" being so widespread would be difficult to argue.

ORDER FOR CONTINUANCE:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Schwartz_filing1110.pdf

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

Bank Beat---Branches bring Deposits
by Christopher Menkin

KeyCorp Vice-Chair Beth Mooney when named as the new chairman said, "I think we will have opportunities to buy other banks," indicating her attitude to grow, adding among her goals was to make sure that Key remains focused on being a "relationship-based, community bank." She specifically said the goal was to have more branches and do business in more cities during her tenure.

(Key Corp photo)

KeyCorp Vice-Chair Beth Mooney, Chairman/CEO Henry Meyer

This basically continues retiring Chairman and CEO Henry Meyer mission. In reality, it is the best plan for small, regional, and mid-size banks, and is quite indicated each week in Bank Beat of those banks who are purchasing failed banking operations from the state and federal authorities.

When ATM's first started to appear in the 1970's, Phil Boyce who was first starting Pacific Valley Bank in San Jose, California, that became quite a success, opened in primarily a residential area, and was opposed to putting in an ATM. I asked him why, as it was obvious it was going to be popular for those who could not make it to the bank during banking hours. His attitude was to be open earlier, longer, and on Saturdays. He wanted people to come into the bank, to get to know them, and one of the reasons why everyone's desk was open for everyone to see, including his (he had a large glass window and could close it with a curtain) was not just for security, but visibility to be able to help a customer if the lines got too long or someone had a question that might lead to bank business.

He was after a relationship, more business, and as he said, their deposits. The better his Tier Risk Capital ratio the more money he could lend.

One of his best assets was his board of directors, who brought in accounts, as well as deposits and other business. One was an old Italian who never finished the eighth grade, but he owned land over Highway 101 and many machine shops and smaller units were his tenants. He called on all of them, got them to open an account at the bank, even offered to pay for the printing of the checks if they moved their account ( it appears very few of those who he talked into moving took him up on it.)

He also gave them advice to save cash, as it was the best leverage when it came to getting a loan, even making a forced savings account, and looked over any financing or leasing deals that others presented to their company He expanded his walking into shops all over the area, not just his own buildings, and for several years was the director who brought in the most accounts (and deposits, despite some heavy hitters with bigger accounts.)

One of his ideas was to use an armored vehicle to pick up deposits and also bring cash to those who requested it. He had enough customers so they could do a daily run, making it easier for these businesses not needing to go to the bank and wait in line.

As Phil grew, he changed his mind about the ATM's, as competition forced him to have these conveniences. At one time, it was thought these units would replace tellers and branches, but Phil learned from his older Italian director, like AP Giannini was reputed to do, he knew many of the customers, especially the business customers by their first name. If a customer had a problem, he might not be the one to personally solve it, but he assigned it to someone who did.

When the internet first became popular in the late 1980's, primarily due to Netscape making it easy to find web sites and information, there began the development of banking on line and leasing on line. NetBank was one of the earlier and largest, as many will remember, and of the 25 aggregate lenders, in reality only one remains and it is in a niche as all the others went out of business, some with $10 and $20 million original IPO's (that was a lot of money in those days, before Yahoo and Google and eBay.)

The talk then was the Internet would start banks closing down branches as they were too expensive to maintain. It did the opposite. It pushed them into supermarkets, large retail stores, and a war here in California to grab onto key locations in communities to have not one, but two branches present, even in small towns like Los Gatos, 28,000, where it seems there is a bank branch on each block. Of course, it is a wealthy area and that makes a difference.

The key to banking has always been the deposits. After that, it is consumer and/or business products that the deposits helped the bank develop.

Lease a "Help Wanted" Ad Reach more readers at a lower price than any other equipment leasing internet publication. These are experienced individuals, well-informed as they read Leasing News to keep up-to-date. Christmas Special 50% Off $297.50 includes logo, four lines, web site with company description. $50 line extra lines. Next year will continue to see economic improvements and more businesses acquiring equipment. Now is the time to build to take part of the increased opportunities that will be available. We’ll design the ad for free. eMail kitmenkin@leasingnews.org with copy ideas and let us see what we put together for you. Plan for the new year.

Leasing Industry Help Wanted

Sales

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Arvest Equipment Finance is looking to fill the position of Equipment Finance Specialist. Qualified applicants should have (5) plus years of bank leasing experience, a college degree, as well as a proven track record of success in sales. If interested, please go to www.arvest.com and click on careers for a complete and detailed job description. We offer an excellent pay and benefits package along with a company vehicle. EOE/AA Arverst Equipment Finance

Interviewing Leasing Professionals With Proven Track Record and Established Book of Business. Envision Provides: 1) Monthly Base Salary 2) Established Funding Sources 3) Fun Working Environment 4) Full Benefits (Health Insurance, 401k) 5) Aggressive Commission Structure. Resumes To: careers@envisioncapitalgroup.com, Contact: Jeff Edwards (949) 225-1712 Envision Capital Group is dedicated to providing the best in class products and service to our employees, customers, vendors and partners in the small and middle ticket commercial finance industry. With over 50 years of combined experience we have the knowledge, skills, abilities and relationships to help you reach your goals.

Vehicle Lenders Group, LLC is looking for dynamic sales associate. Either work out of one of our offices in Calif. , Dayton, or Oyster Bay, NY or your own office. Draw w/benefits after three month probation period. Must have excellent references, honest, self motivated, able to generate $500,000 a month by the end of 12 months of employment. Curt Webster, CVLE 516-922-7447 ext 104 http://www.trucklendersusa.com/

Account Executive – Inside Sales San Francisco, CA Base salary, a lucrative uncapped commission plan and an environment conducive to your success. Click here to learn more. www.atel.com

Account Executives - Inside Sales Calabasas, CA Base salary plus commission. Minimum 1 yr experience. Please send resumes to: jobs@teqlease.com Attn: Mike Lockwood or Russ Runnalls CLP www.TEQlease.com

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

Leasing 102
by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP

Basic Lease Issues in Documentation

Yes, I am going to write about “sloppy documentation” again, but this time I want to discuss “sloppy” in terms of the content of the agreement--- not the issue of missing dates or signatures. Many are aware of the common errors created in signing a lease, but overlook the basics until they go to court and lose.

There are four issues in commercial equipment leasing that have to be addressed in our documents and they are:

• Legal

• Income Tax

• Asset Taxes

• Accounting

A lease contract is judged by its content for the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) that means that substance is more important than form. This was first stated by the income tax rules ---but it applies across the board of all the rules.

A lease agreement that offers a bargain purchase option is in “substance” a conditional sales contract not a lease. The UCC calls it a disguised conditional sales contract. However we call it a lease and most of the content of the lease agreement would lead you to believe it is a lease and it carries the term “lease agreement” on the top of the form. However, you fail to qualify as a lease for UCC purposes.

A lease agreement clearly states that the Lessor is the owner; however, since it does not qualify as a UCC lease, the question then is “who is the owner?”

Why is this a problem about “who is the owner?” Even though the UCC will call it an Article 9 “disguised sales contract,” the document states that ownership remains with the Lessor “until” termination occurs and the Lessee pays the bargain purchase option. In the old lease documentation we use to say that the bargain purchase option was only available if the lease was “handled in a satisfactory manner”. However, that statement was too ambiguous so we added “and all rentals, fees (late) and other amounts outstanding at termination are paid”. Still questions arose when equipment was destroyed during the term and its value exceeded the unpaid balance. Who receives the excess? In Article 9 the Lessee is considered the owner so you would assume the insurance proceeds would go to the Lessee. However, if title has not passed should the Lessor retain the proceeds? Both are correct unless your documents address the issue!

In addition, the requirement is that all assed taxes such as property tax, school tax, fire tax, and local or regional assed taxes are due and payable by the “owner of record” at the time the tax is due. If title does not pass to the lessee until proper termination, then the Lessor is on the hook and owes the tax if the lessee fails to render it as required in the agreement.

You need to understand what part of your lease language is “unenforceable” for UCC purposes if you have an Article 9 transaction. Perhaps you should pass title upon commencement and pay the sales or other taxes up front to avoid the confusion.

While the language in a lease agreement is stronger than a loan document or a conditional sales agreement, it is sometimes wise to use these forms instead of a lease to avoid the servicing requirements that require following all of the tax issues during the lease term. In many cases funding institutions that purchase bargain option leases in states where sales tax may be paid up front usually do not grasp the risk until it is too late.

I have also seen times where a lessee returns equipment instead of purchasing it because the disposal costs are greater that it’s value. You need to be careful when equipment contains or works with hazardous material because you may have a disposal problem on your hands. Your lease agreement should carry additional fees if the equipment is returned requiring extra expenses. Knowing the equipment use is just as important for true risk as it is for residual value.

It is very hard to create specific documentation for each type of equipment you lease but there are many issues that could create a different group of standard documents instead of just one set. I recommend you contact an attorney experienced in the leasing industry to create at least five to seven sets depending on the markets you service and also the laws and customs of your most prominent States. It is not just complying with the UCC that is important, it is the content of your agreement because it can help solve problems with your lessee or it can add to them.

It is important to cut costs in these times and adding to the servicing costs because your documents are to short or do not cover the whole scope of future problems is one of your most important decisions.

In later articles I will address some additional overlooked problems of documentation.

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP, has been a teacher, consultant, expert witness for the leasing industry for thirty-five years and can be reached at leaseconsulting@msn.com or 502-649-0448

He invites your questions and queries.

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

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

Advanced Property Tax Compliance
by Gary A. DiLillo

(Leasing News asked its long time advertiser to explain how his company works. The banner ads that appear here don't tell the whole story.)

As you know all Lessor’s who own assets in a state that imposes a business personal property tax must file a return declaring those assets (with support information) and pay taxes on those assets. This is a fiduciary responsibility that carries some pretty hefty penalty and interest if not done or done correctly. It is not uncommon to be audited and the county auditor to share information with other counties.

Some say there are over 60 thousand different tax jurisdictions. I don’t know if that number is correct, however each state and many jurisdictions within a state have different rules that need to be adhered to. All Lessors have clauses in their leases that require the Lessee to reimburse them for the taxes and allows them to charge an admin fee to do the Personal Property Tax compliance.

I don’t want to describe exactly how we provide the service. I have an eight page document if you want to read it, but I can tell you that we do it better than anyone else, period. How do I know this? To meet the compliance requirements you really need property tax software. I know the software that is available and the limitations of each. The software packages available not written exclusively for leasing personal property taxes. So you get a vanilla software that will work overall, but without the specialized features that really make a difference. And these “off-the-shelf software packages are expensive and hard to learn. None of the software is as user friendly or has the leased asset capabilities of the software my partner developed over 15 years ago.

Secondly, all my competitors offer other types of tax services, so they aren’t totally dedicated to just personal property tax compliance. Third, when we started the company in late 2004 we designed, developed, and implemented everything with the single purpose of providing personal property tax compliance. The end result was a computer driven systemic process that eliminates most of the possibility for human errors and provides information that directly benefits the Lessors. The end result is that our employees are not stressed out because the software automates many of the tasks and we can do the same amount of work with a third fewer employees.

We also provide a web portal to our Clients that has the information their customer service department needs. This information is easily accessible and can be printed or file-saved and emailed to the Lessee. When the Lessee sees the additional cost for yearly property tax on their monthly statement the first they do is call customer service. The initial question is “Show me how these taxes were computed”. The customer service rep simple enters the lease number into our site and clicks on the “Property Tax Detail Report” which provides a complete breakdown by asset or lease for that Lessee. The report even has the phone number of the assessor so the Lessee can check the numbers and/or verify the assets were filed.

The next question is “I want to see the actual tax bill that was paid”. While in the same report the customer service rep clicks on the tax bill number and the actual scanned tax bill appears. Likewise the bill can be file-saved and emailed or printed and fax to the Lessee. The end result is that the Lessee has no excuses for not paying the invoiced taxes. The customer service rep doesn’t have to go to one system to get the breakdown and another for the tax bill. Nor do they have to go ask someone in the tax department for help. By getting paid faster from the Lessees you affect cash flow.

Because property taxes are paid in arrears, often at lease termination the taxes for that year have not been paid. Many Lessors have a difficult time trying to collect taxes 6-9 months later when they may not have a relationship with that Lessee. We provide a simple tax estimation report on leases which will terminate anytime in the future. Most of my Clients pull the report each quarter and bill the estimated property tax 60-90 prior to the lease terminating. This assures them of collecting the taxes, eliminating a potential loss due to a Lessee going out of business or failure to collect.

The same problem arises when a Lessee wants to buyout the lease early. We provide a “Buyout Estimate Report” so the estimated personal property taxes can be included in the buyout quote. These reports and support information empower the customer service department and reduce the need to contact someone else for the required information.

$$$$ Savings

1) Because we use a third fewer people, our fees are typically 40-200% less than my competitors, and I still make the same or greater profit. Unless you are a very big Lessor ( Key Bank, Dell, etc.) my service will be less than doing the process in-house. In fact many times the cost for my service is less that the 10K it cost to license the off-the-shelf software each year.

2) Next, the Lessor has to “front” the monies and pay the taxes before they get reimbursed by the Lessee, this can be a considerable drain on cash flows. Because my staff is larger and can process tax bills faster than other firms, I provide billing files to the Lessor so they can invoice the Lessee months prior to the tax due dates. This can eliminate cash flow problems. My web portal informs the Lessor when they need to deposit funds into the tax payment checking account so they don’t get confused.

Gary A. DiLillo
President & Founder
Advanced Property Tax Compliance
5755 Granger Road, Suite 600
Independence, OH 44131
gary@avptc.com
Phone: (216) 658-5618
Fax: (216) 661-5594
Cell: (440) 724-0701

Our Quality Service is the result of intelligent direction, superior software, and skillful execution.

Top Stories---November 15—November 19

Here are the top ten stories opened by readers:

(1) Eight indicted in Equipment Finance Scam
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_22.htm#scam

(2) Lease Scammer Convicted of $4.2 Million Scheme
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_22.htm#scammer

(3) Where is New CEO for Main Street Bank?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#ceo

(4) Leasing 102 by Mr. Terry Winders, CLP
"What is a Security Deposit?"
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_22.htm#deposit

(5) Lease Employment in China
by Ken Vancini, ZRG Partners
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#china

(6) New Hires---Promotions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#hires

(7) Union Bank Unveils Small Businesses Loan, Line, Lease Promotions
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#union

(8) Cartoon---Can you start right away?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#cartoon

(9) New Key CEO means more community bank branches
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/11/a_new_ceo_for_key_means_the_ba.html

(Tie)(10) ELFA MFLI-25 Shows 15.5% Drop in Leasing Business?
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#elfa

(Tie)(10) The average American credit score is 675
http://leasingnews.org/archives/Nov2010/11_24.htm#credit

World Leasing Yearbook 2010

Covering over 500 pages, the new World Leasing Yearbook 2010 guides the reader through the latest developments in the global leasing market, providing valuable industry data and analysis on over 80 countries.

The 31st edition features:

- A unique directory of over 4,900 companies and 6,500 contact names, including the most important companies within the leasing sector.
- Over 100 countries represented.
- This year including members from 49 global associations, including the ASF (France), CFLA (Canada), ELFA (US) and the FLA (UK).
- A comprehensive new US section with over 672 companies.
- New and improved online format making access to contacts easier and quicker.

$450

http://www.euromoneyplc.com/product.asp?PositionID=3791&ProductID=12325&123=abc&print=true

Independence, Ohio---Adopt-a-Dog

Rilee
Medium
Adult
Female

COURTESY POST NOT A SHELTER DOG

This is Rilee - she is a lovely dog. She was born January 1st 2009. She is looking for a good home. She is up to date on her vaccinations, Heartworm tested and on prevention and spayed. She is also microchipped. She is a wonderful dog. She is housebroken in the sense that she will not potty in the house but still is crated when owner not home. She was a rescue dog - the people didn’t want her and literally put her in my arms. They didn’t even have a collar for her. I have taken her in and worked with her. She really is the most loving animal. BUT SHE IS A BORDER COLLIE. She is not hyper active at all but needs daily walks. She is not a dog to take and chain up!!!!

She is a loving dog that plays well with my dogs but needs a home of her own. She should not have small children around because she might knock them over. She will bark at new people but once she knows they wont hurt her she is fine. ..

She is smart - and I would love to keep her but I have another border collie that I am working with. If you don’t have the time for this dog please don’t ask about her. please email for more information or to meet her. She will go to an approved home only

-would prefer a fenced in yard but not 100% necessary. She does like a nice warm bed to sleep in. She would like another dog to play with- does well with other dogs as long as they are not dominant females that will challenge her.

Spayed/Neutered
Up-to-date with routine shots
House trained
Prefers a home without: cats, young children

Independence Animal Control Shelter, Independence, OH

•216-524-3940
indyshelter@aol.com
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH320.html

Main Shelter:
6800 Brecksville Road
independence, Ohio 44131
Phone: 216-524-3033
Fax: 216-328-0110
Email: burrierj3998@aol.com
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH320.html

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

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

 

 

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News Briefs----

Robust Sales for Holiday Weekend
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/business/economy/29shop.html?ref=business

 

You May have Missed---

Thanksgiving: no black hats or buckled shoes
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/281/041/The_Real_Thanksgiving_--_A_Different_Point_of_View.html

 

 

Sports Briefs----

NFL Scores
http://content.usatoday.com/sportsdata/scores/nfl

The Huddle (Roundup)
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/index

NFL Week 12 Report Cards: Grades For Every Team
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/528861-nfl-week-12-report-cards-grades-for-every-team#page/4

 

California Nuts Briefs---

Giants owner Bill Neukom tops list of Most Powerful
http://www.mercurynews.com/mark-purdy/ci_16713496?source=most_viewed

 

 

 

“Gimme that Wine”

Tough Times Teach Wineries Tough Lessons
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=81124&
htitle=Tough%20Times%20Teach%20Wineries%20Tough%20Lessons

The Rise & Fall of Kluge Estate Winery
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=80922&
htitle=The%20Rise%20%26%20Fall%20of%20Kluge%20Estate%20Winery

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

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com

http://www.wine-searcher.com/

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

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

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

     

    1644-- The Massachusetts General Court issued a call for local pastors to learn the dialects of neighboring Indian tribes, as an aid toward converting them to the Christian faith.
    1729-Birthday of Charles Thomson, America’s first official record keeper. Chosen secretary of the First Continental Congress Sept 5, 1774, Thomson recorded proceedings for 15 years and delivered his journals together with tens of thousands of records to the federal government in 1789. Born in Ireland, he died Aug 16, 1824. It was Thomson who notified George Washington of his election as president.
http://www.charlesthomson.com/
    1760 -- Major Roger Rogers takes possession of Detroit on behalf of Britain.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1186.html
    1776- General George Washington starts re-grouping his troops, fighting the heavy winter, planning a major surprise into Hessian held New Jersey.
    1777-Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga, with 14 settlers and their families, arrived in the Santa Clara Valley to found El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe San Jose, the first secular community in California, was established on the Guadalupe River. Called a “Pueblo,” it had 66 inhabitants whose dissolute lives scandalized the padres at nearby Mission Santa Clara. The priests built a road lined by shady willows from the mission to San Jose to encourage church attendance, but the colonists stayed away as the Padres made them work for the mission, imposed cruelty when they did not and other punishments for not speaking Spanish, dressing “appropriately,” saying prayers or following missionaries’ way of “salvation.”
http://www.donaldlaird.com/landmarks/counties/400-499/433.html
    1780-- In Connecticut, Lemuel Haynes, 27, was licensed to preach in the Congregational Church, becoming the first black minister to be certified by a predominantly white denomination. Five years later, in 1785, Haynes was ordained pastor of a church in Torrington, CT, also making him the first black minister to pastor a white church. He fell in love with a young white woman in his Connecticut congregation; she proposed to him, and they were married in 1783, producing ten children. Middlebury College gave Haynes an honorary degree (another unprecedented event) at its second commencement in 1804. He filled pulpits in Bennington, Manchester, and Granville, New York, before his death at the age of eighty.
http://www.virtualvermont.com/history/lhaynes.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p29.html
    1799 -- American utopianist writer, philosopher, teacher Amos Bronson Alcott born, Wolcott, Connecticut. A profound influence over Ralph Waldo Emerson, who in turn was instrumental in the development of Alcott’s daughter Louisa May
http://www.alcott.net/
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/alcott/
    1811- birthday of Wendell Phillips, American women’s suffrage, anti-slavery, prison reform leader, born at Boston, MA. Died there Feb 2, 1884.
    1816-The first savings bank conceived by charter: the Bank for Savings in the City of New York. It did not open until March 26, 1819. The deposits on the first day, received from 80 depositors, amounted to $2,807. The statement for the first six months showed a loss of $27 suffered as a result of the bank’s accepting counterfeit money and a short change loss of $23.92.
    1832-- Louisa May Alcott Birthday, American author, born at Philadelphia, PA. Died at Boston, MA, March 6, 1888. ” Known for her novel Little Women, the classic story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, she also wrote Work, an autobiographical novel exposing the exploitation of women workers and the evils of industrialization in 1873. After the failure of her father's utopian community Fruitlands, she took care of the welfare of the family.
While Louisa May was growing up, her family was near starvation many times and friends and neighbors took them food and clothing. In 1848 her mother Abba Alcott at age 49 was hired by a group of philanthropic Boston women to be their city missionary to distribute food and clothing to the poor and needy (her family included).
Her salary provided almost the only income for her four children and her philosopher husband Branson, who did a lot of thinking and talking that has gotten him into a lot of "noted men" history books, but did no work to feed himself or his family. Branson once wrote in his voluminous correspondence,
"What with my wife's and (daughter) Anna's earnings, my own tithe and charities from a few friends, we survive as a family, and fall but little into debt.”
An ardent abolitionist, she volunteered in the American Civil War as a nurse & served in 1862-1863 at the Union Hospital in Georgetown, D.C. During this time she contracted typhoid from which she never completely recovered. Her father was born the same day of the month, see 1799.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/nov29.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lmalcott.htm
    1850-The San Francisco Grand Jury condemned gambling in this city as "a crying evil," and urged that something must be done about prize fighting as well as numerous houses of ill-repute.
    1863- The Battle of Fort Sanders, Knoxville, Tenn., ends with a Confederate withdrawal.
    1864 --Ignoring orders to kill only warriors, a U.S. Army massacres 103 sleeping Cheyenne — including Black Kettle, a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre — in the so-called "Battle of the Washita," Oklahoma Territory.
http://www.lastoftheindependents.com/BlackKettle.html
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/four/sandcrk.htm
    1872 -- The Battle of Lost River, the first hostilities between the U.S. Government & Captain Jack's band of Modoc Indians. The government moves in early in the A.M. while the Modocs sleep, & demands a surrender. Instead, as could have been predicted, the distrustful Modocs react with gunfire. One Modoc, known as The Watchman is killed and one U.S. soldier by the name of Harris is also killed. Several on both sides are wounded. In the immediate aftermath, the Modocs also kill 17 settlers. Some curiosity seekers had tagged along to watch the battle, and fled with guns firing at the first sign of hostilities. One of these killed a civilian and her infant with a panic-induced shotgun blast.
    1876-Birthday of Nellie Taylor Ross, who became the first female governor in the US when she was chosen to serve out the last month and two days of her husband’s term as governor of Wyoming after he died in office. She was elected in her own right in the Nov 4, 1924, election but lost the 1927 race. Ross was appointed vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1926 and named director of the US Mint by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. She served in that capacity for 20 years. Born at St. Joseph, MO, she died Dec 20,1977, at Washington, DC.
    1877-- Thomas Edison demonstrates the hand-cranked phonograph
    1887 - United States receives rights to Pearl Harbor, on Oahu, Hawaii.
    1887 - Child prodigy pianist, Josef Hofmann, at 11 years of age, made his American debut at a concert held in the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. His recording remain, although in later life he said the early fame was more than he could handle, turning to alcohol, which greatly affected his career and personal life.
http://www.geocities.com/greatpianists/hofmann.html
    1890-Army played Navy for the first time in football, and Navy won, 24—C. Red Emrich scored four touchdowns (worth four points each) and kicked two field goals (worth two points each), and Moulton Johnson added the other touchdown to account for all the scoring
    1883 -- Printer/publisher Dard Hunter lives, Steubenville, Ohio. His writings on the history and technique of papermaking include the autobiography, My Life with Paper
    1895- The first gasoline-powered automobile race in the U.S., the Chicago to Evanston Thanksgiving Day Race, was won by the brothers Charles E. and J. Frank Duryea; 6 cars, 55 miles, winner averages a blazing 7 MPH.
    1895-Birthday of William “Busby” Berkeley, born Los Angeles, CA. After serving in World War I as an entertainment officer, he changed his name to Busby Berkeley and began a career as an actor. He turned to directing in 1921, and his lavish Broadway and Hollwood creations, including “Forty-Second Street,” “ Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Footlight Parade,” “Stage Struck,” “Babes in Arms,” “Strike up the Band, “ Girl Crazy,” and “Take Me out to the Ball Game.” He retired in 1962 and returned to Broadway in 1970 to supervise a revival of “No, No, Nanette.” He died March 14, 1976 at Palm Springs, Ca.
    1896 - the temperatures fell to 51 below zero at Havre, MT
    1903 - An Inquiry into the U.S. Postal Service demonstrates the government has lost millions in fraud.
    1904 - President Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to a distant cousin named Franklin, saying he approved of Franklin’s intended marriage to the President’s niece, Eleanor.
    1908-Birthday of Adam Clayton Powell,Jr., New Haven, Conn. Well-known and popular black Congressman, representing Harlem, NY, receiving the mantle from his very popular and influential father, Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. Caught in activity unbecoming a Congressman, considered a dynamic personality and leader, his attraction to the opposite sex became his undoing and use of government money for trips to the Bahamas became his undoing, as he was barred to sit in Congress after fulfilling eleven terms in 1967, re-elected, and then rejected by voters in his district when he ran in the next term on new charges of corruption. Died on April 4, 1972, in Miami, Fla.; cremated and ashes scattered over South Bimini in the Bahamas, where he spent most of his time when he was supposed to be representing his constituents in Congress..
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000477
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/02/16/Floridian/Adam_Clayton_Powell_J.shtml
http://www.blackseek.com/bh/2001/10_AdamPowell.htm
http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/Harlem/text/acpowell.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/researchtools/articlearchives/honormlk/gloryday.htm
    1915-- Composer/arranger/pianist Billy Strayhorn birthday, born Dayton, Ohio.
http://www.schirmer.com/composers/strayhorn/bio.html
http://www.billystrayhorn.com/biography.htm
http://town.hall.org/Archives/radio/Kennedy/Taylor/bt_stray.html
http://www2.biglobe.ne.jp/~songbook/ellington-strayhorn/index.html
    1907-The first stadium operated by a city was the Golden Gate Park Stadium, San Francisco, CA, completed this day. It was oval in shape and covered a 30-acre field. It had two entrances, one on the north and one of the south side, through tunnels 30 feet wide and 10 feet high. A three-quarter mile trotting track 60 feet wide encircled the stadium. Biccyle races were held on November 29, 1906, before completion.
    1926- Duke Ellington’s Kentucky Club Orchestra records “ East St. Louis Toodle-O.,” Vocalion 1064
    1929 - After finishing his first flight over the North Pole on this date in 1926, Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Byrd flew over the South Pole today, exactly three years later; becoming the first American to achieve this feat.
    1932 - In New York City, Cole Porter's musical, "The Gay Divorcee," opened. It featured the classic, "Night and Day".
1934. the Detroit Lions played their first Thanksgiving Day game, the start of an NFL tradition, and lost to the Chicago Bears, 19—16. CBS Radio does its first-ever national broadcast of an NFL game before a crowd of 26,000.
    1941-Dennis Doherty, vocalist with the Mamas & Papas, is born
    1943--HASEMOTO, MIKIO Medal of Honor
Private Mikio Hasemoto distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 November 1943, in the vicinity of Cerasuolo, Italy. A force of approximately 40 enemy soldiers, armed with machine guns, machine pistols, rifles, and grenades, attacked the left flank of his platoon. Two enemy soldiers with machine guns advanced forward, firing their weapons. Private Hasemoto, an automatic rifleman, challenged these two machine gunners. After firing four magazines at the approaching enemy, his weapon was shot and damaged. Unhesitatingly, he ran 10 yards to the rear, secured another automatic rifle and continued to fire until his weapon jammed. At this point, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader had killed approximately 20 enemy soldiers. Again, Private Hasemoto ran through a barrage of enemy machine gun fire to pick up an M-1 rifle. Continuing their fire, Private Hasemoto and his squad leader killed 10 more enemy soldiers. With only three enemy soldiers left, he and his squad leader charged courageously forward, killing one, wounding one, and capturing another. The following day, Private Hasemoto continued to repel enemy attacks until he was killed by enemy fire. Private Hasemoto’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
    1943-HAYASHI, SHIZUYA Medal of Honor
Private Shizuya Hayashi distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 29 November 1943, near Cerasuolo, Italy. During a flank assault on high ground held by the enemy, Private Hayashi rose alone in the face of grenade, rifle, and machine gun fire. Firing his automatic rifle from the hip, he charged and overtook an enemy machine gun position, killing seven men in the nest and two more as they fled. After his platoon advanced 200 yards from this point, an enemy antiaircraft gun opened fire on the men. Private Hayashi returned fire at the hostile position, killing nine of the enemy, taking four prisoners, and forcing the remainder of the force to withdraw from the hill. Private Hayashi’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
    1944-MILLER, ANDREW Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 377th Infantry, 95th Infantry Division. Place and date: From Woippy, France, through Metz to Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany, 16-29 November 1944. Entered service at: Two Rivers, Wis. Birth: Manitowoc, Wis. G.O. No.: 74, 1 September 1945. Citation: For performing a series of heroic deeds from 1629 November 1944, during his company's relentless drive from Woippy, France, through Metz to Kerprich Hemmersdorf, Germany. As he led a rifle squad on 16 November at Woippy, a crossfire from enemy machineguns pinned down his unit. Ordering his men to remain under cover, he went forward alone, entered a building housing 1 of the guns and forced S Germans to surrender at bayonet point. He then took the second gun single-handedly by hurling grenades into the enemy position, killing 2, wounding 3 more, and taking 2 additional prisoners. At the outskirts of Metz the next day, when his platoon, confused by heavy explosions and the withdrawal of friendly tanks, retired, he fearlessly remained behind armed with an automatic rifle and exchanged bursts with a German machinegun until he silenced the enemy weapon. His quick action in covering his comrades gave the platoon time to regroup and carry on the fight. On 19 November S/Sgt. Miller led an attack on large enemy barracks. Covered by his squad, he crawled to a barracks window, climbed in and captured 6 riflemen occupying the room. His men, and then the entire company, followed through the window, scoured the building, and took 75 prisoners. S/Sgt. Miller volunteered, with 3 comrades, to capture Gestapo officers who were preventing the surrender of German troops in another building. He ran a gauntlet of machinegun fire and was lifted through a window. Inside, he found himself covered by a machine pistol, but he persuaded the 4 Gestapo agents confronting him to surrender. Early the next morning, when strong hostile forces punished his company with heavy fire, S/Sgt. Miller assumed the task of destroying a well-placed machinegun. He was knocked down by a rifle grenade as he climbed an open stairway in a house, but pressed on with a bazooka to find an advantageous spot from which to launch his rocket. He discovered that he could fire only from the roof, a position where he would draw tremendous enemy fire. Facing the risk, he moved into the open, coolly took aim and scored a direct hit on the hostile emplacement, wreaking such havoc that the enemy troops became completely demoralized and began surrendering by the score. The following day, in Metz, he captured 12 more prisoners and silenced an enemy machinegun after volunteering for a hazardous mission in advance of his company's position. On 29 November, as Company G climbed a hill overlooking Kerprich Hemmersdorf, enemy fire pinned the unit to the ground. S/Sgt. Miller, on his own initiative, pressed ahead with his squad past the company's leading element to meet the surprise resistance. His men stood up and advanced deliberately, firing as they went. Inspired by S/Sgt. Miller's leadership, the platoon followed, and then another platoon arose and grimly closed with the Germans. The enemy action was smothered, but at the cost of S/Sgt. Miller's life. His tenacious devotion to the attack, his gallant choice to expose himself to enemy action rather than endanger his men, his limitless bravery, assured the success of Company G.
    1944 -- John Hopkins hospital performs first open heart surgery.
    1947 ---Despite strong Arab opposition, the United Nations votes for the partition of Palestine and the creation of an independent Jewish state.
    1948- “ Kukla, Fran and Ollie” premiered on TV. This popular children’s show featured puppets created and handled by Burr Tillstrom and was equally popular with adults. Fran Allison was the only human on the show. Tillstrom’s lively and eclectic cast of characters, called the “Kuklapolitans,” included the bald, high-voiced Kukla, the big-toothed Oliver J. Dragon (OIIie), Fletcher Rabbit, Cecil Bill, Beulah the Witch, Colonel Crackie, Madame Ooglepuss and Dolores Dragon. Most shows were performed without scripts.
   1950--MYERS, REGINALD R. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein.). Place and date: Near Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Entered service at: Boise, Idaho. Born: 26 November 1919, Boise, Idaho. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of the 3d Battalion, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assuming command of a composite unit of Army and Marine service and headquarters elements totaling approximately 250 men, during a critical stage in the vital defense of the strategically important military base at Hagaru-ri, Maj. Myers immediately initiated a determined and aggressive counterattack against a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force numbering an estimated 4,000. Severely handicapped by a lack of trained personnel and experienced leaders in his valiant efforts to regain maximum ground prior to daylight, he persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate, and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack. Inexorably moving forward up the steep, snow-covered slope with his depleted group in the face of apparently insurmountable odds, he concurrently directed artillery and mortar fire with superb skill and although losing 170 of his men during 14 hours of raging combat in subzero temperatures, continued to reorganize his unit and spearhead the attack which resulted in 600 enemy killed and 500 wounded. By his exceptional and valorous leadership throughout, Maj. Myers contributed directly to the success of his unit in restoring the perimeter. His resolute spirit of self-sacrifice and unfaltering devotion to duty enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
   1950--SITTER, CARL L. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 and 30 November 1950. Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Born: 2 December 1921, Syracuse, Mo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Ordered to break through enemy-infested territory to reinforce his battalion the morning of 29 November, Capt. Sitter continuously exposed himself to enemy fire as he led his company forward and, despite 25 percent casualties suffered m the furious action, succeeded in driving through to his objective. Assuming the responsibility of attempting to seize and occupy a strategic area occupied by a hostile force of regiment strength deeply entrenched on a snow-covered hill commanding the entire valley southeast of the town, as well as the line of march of friendly troops withdrawing to the south, he reorganized his depleted units the following morning and boldly led them up the steep, frozen hillside under blistering fire, encouraging and redeploying his troops as casualties occurred and directing forward platoons as they continued the drive to the top of the ridge. During the night when a vastly outnumbering enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack, setting the hill ablaze with mortar, machine gun, and automatic-weapons fire and taking a heavy toll in troops, Capt. Sitter visited each foxhole and gun position, coolly deploying and integrating reinforcing units consisting of service personnel unfamiliar with infantry tactics into a coordinated combat team and instilling in every man the will and determination to hold his position at all costs. With the enemy penetrating his lines in repeated counterattacks which often required hand-to-hand combat, and, on one occasion infiltrating to the command post with hand grenades, he fought gallantly with his men in repulsing and killing the fanatic attackers in each encounter. Painfully wounded in the face, arms, and chest by bursting grenades, he staunchly refused to be evacuated and continued to fight on until a successful defense of the area was assured with a loss to the enemy of more than 50 percent dead, wounded, and captured. His valiant leadership, superb tactics, and great personal valor throughout 36 hours of bitter combat reflect the highest credit upon Capt. Sitter and the U.S. Naval Service.
    1952-President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower flew to Korean, fulfilling his campaign promise, and inspected the UN forces there. On a three-day tour, he visited front-line positions. the tour was kept secret until he had returned from the zone of danger.
    1952---Top Hits
You Belong to Me - Jo Stafford
Glow Worm - The Mills Brothers
Lady of Spain - Eddie Fisher
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Hank Williams
    1953-The first transcontinental nonstop two-way airplane service by American Airlines, using Douglas DC-7th, between International Airport, Los Angeles, Ca., and Idlewild International Airport, New York City, a distance of 2,540 miles. The eastbound flight was scheduled for 7 hours 15 minutes and the westbound flight for 7 hours 35 minutes. It would not be until 1959 for the first four-engine American Airlines Boeing 707 to take 112 passengers and eight member crew, 4 hours, 3 minutes, 3 seconds to make the flight. The plane was piloted by Captain Charles Macatee of Huntington, NY. The fare was $158.83 one way plus tax and $301.90 round trip plus tax. On December 28, 1961 American Airlines was the first to carry 100 million passengers.
    1957—Birthday of Janet Napolitano – Governor of Arizona, elected 2002—born Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    1959 - The Grammy Awards were shown on network television for the first time. (It was actually the second year of the Grammy Awards.) "Mack the Knife" won Record of the Year and Bobby Darin, who belted it out, was Best New Artist of the Year. Frank Sinatra won Album of the Year for "Come Dance with Me". Jimmy Driftwood penned the Song of the Year: "The Battle of New Orleans", which also won Country and Western Performance of the Year honors for Johnny Horton. The Best Folk Performance of the Year went to The Kingston Trio for their "...at Large" recording. The Best Performance by a Top 40 Artist was Nat King Cole’s "Midnight Flyer" and the Grammy for Best Comedy Performance, Musical, went to Homer & Jethro for their immortal "The Battle of Kookamonga".
    1960---Top Hits
Are You Lonesome To-night? - Elvis Presley
Last Date - Floyd Cramer
A Thousand Stars - Kathy Young with The Innocents
Wings of a Dove - Ferlin Husky
    1962 - Major League Baseball made the decision to return to playing only one All-Star Game a year as of 1963. Since 1959, there had been two games each year.
    1963 - Beatles released "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Within three days, the record will have sold one million copies, making it their second million seller.
    1963 - United States President Lyndon Johnson named a commission, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, to investigate the assassination of President John Kennedy.
    1964 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Ringo," Lorne Greene. Greene, star of the NBC show "Bonanza," is only the second Canadian to have a No. 1 hit in the United States.
    1968---Top Hits
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Love Child - Diana Ross & The Supremes
Abraham, Martin and John - Dion
Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette
    1968 - Jon Knight of New Kids on the Block is born. He is the oldest member of the pop group from Boston. His brother Jordan is also in the group.
    1968-Advance orders exceed 700,000 and The Who release their first concept record, "The Who Sell Out."
    1969 --Beatles' "Come Together," single goes #1
    1969 - Dense fog along the New Jersey turnpike resulted in a deadly chain reaction during the morning rush hour. A propane tanker jackknifed and was struck by other tractor trailers and cars. 6 were killed in the fiery mess
    1969--PRUDEN, ROBERT J. Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, 75th Infantry, Americal Division. Place and date: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam, 29 November 1969. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: 9 September 1949, St. Paul, Minn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Pruden, Company G, distinguished himself while serving as a reconnaissance team leader during an ambush mission. The 6-man team was inserted by helicopter into enemy controlled territory to establish an ambush position and to obtain information concerning enemy movements. As the team moved into the preplanned area, S/Sgt. Pruden deployed his men into 2 groups on the opposite sides of a well used trail. As the groups were establishing their defensive positions, 1 member of the team was trapped in the open by the heavy fire from an enemy squad. Realizing that the ambush position had been compromised, S/Sgt. Pruden directed his team to open fire on the enemy force. Immediately, the team came under heavy fire from a second enemy element. S/Sgt. Pruden, with full knowledge of the extreme danger involved, left his concealed position and, firing as he ran, advanced toward the enemy to draw the hostile fire. He was seriously wounded twice but continued his attack until he fell for a third time, in front of the enemy positions. S/Sgt. Pruden's actions resulted in several enemy casualties and withdrawal of the remaining enemy force. Although grievously wounded, he directed his men into defensive positions and called for evacuation helicopters, which safely withdrew the members of the team. S/Sgt. Pruden's outstanding courage, selfless concern for the welfare of his men, and intrepidity in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army
    1969-Elvis Presley's LP "From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis" reaches the Billboard album chart, where it will stay for the next 24 weeks, climbing as high as #12.
    1972--"Why Don't You Believe Me" by Joni James topped the charts and stayed there for 6 weeks.
    1972 - "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations starts climbing to the top. A version of the song by the Undisputed Truth was released four months before the Temptations single but only reaches No. 63 on Billboard's Hot 100.
    1975 - Red River, NM records 34 inches of snow in 24 hours to set the state snowfall record.
    1975 ---Kilauea Volcano erupts in Hawaii.
    1975 - Silver Convention had the United States' #1 pop tune, with "Fly, Robin, Fly".
    1976-- The Yankees sign free-agent Reggie Jackson to five-year, $3.5 million dollar contract. During Mr. October's tenure, the Bronx Bombers will win four divisions, three pennants and two World Series.
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/-Posters_i359981_.htm
    1976---Top Hits
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
The Rubberband Man - Spinners
Good Woman Blues - Mel Tillis
    1977-Kansas, riding the crest of popularity forged by the 1976 hit "Carry on Wayward Son," enjoys their biggest album to date, "Point of Know Return," which goes platinum.
    1978-Neil Young's 13th solo album, "Comes a Time," goes gold.
    1979-Michael Jackson receives a gold record for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," the first of four Top Ten hits from his album, "Off the Wall." Both "Don't Stop..." and "Rock With You" will hit Number One on the soul and pop charts. Also the album will be a Number One pop and soul LP.
    1981 - Film actress Natalie Wood drowned off the California coast. Wood, her husband Robert Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken, were aboard the Wagners' yacht, Splendour. Sometime during the night, Wood fell overboard, unbeknownst to those on board. Her body was found after a seven-hour search, 200 yards from a small, motorized dinghy in a rocky cove off Catalina Island. Her death was believed to be alcohol-related, and foul play was ruled out. The beautiful Oscar-nominated actress was 43 at the time of her death. Wood's list of film credits included Miracle on 34th Street, Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, Splendour in the Grass, Love with the Proper Stranger, Inside Daisy Clover, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, and, her last film, which was still in production at the time of her death, Brainstorm.
    1983 - It was a new record when the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 1287.20.
    1984---Top Hits
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
I Feel for You - Chaka Khan
Out of Touch - Daryl Hall & John Oates
You Could’ve Heard a Heart Break - Johnny Lee
    1985 -the temperature at Bismarck, ND plunged to 30 below zero to set a November record.
    1986 - Debuting at #1 on the album charts was the blockbuster five-record set, "Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85". Prior to this, no five-record set had hit the top 25, and no five-record set had ever gone platinum. The price for the set was $25.
    1986-"You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1987 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," Belinda Carlisle. The song is the first No. 1 hit for the former lead singer of the Go-Go's and comes from her second solo album.
    1989 - Strong Santa Ana winds diminished over southern California, but record cold was reported in some of the California valleys, with readings of 27 degrees at Redding and 31 degrees at Bakersfield. Gale force winds, gusting to 44 mph at Milwaukee WI, produced snow squalls in the Great Lakes Region. Sault Ste Marie MI finished the month of November with a record 46.8 inches of snow.
    1991 - an F4 tornado tracked 10 miles from Nixa to Springfield, MO killing 2, injuring 64 and doing over $15 million in damages
    1997- Eddie Robinson ended his 56-year college football coaching career with a loss as Southern Univer­sity beat his Grambling Tigers, 30—7, in the Bayou Clas­sic. Robinson, who started coaching in 1941, compiled a record of 408—165—15. His teams won or shared 17 South­western Athletic Conference titles and eight black college national championships. Grambling’s record in Robin­son s last year was 3—8.
    2000 --Florida ... Recount Reveals Nader Defeated
TALLAHASSEE, FL-- A third recount by Florida election officials has "definitively determined" that Green Party candidate Ralph Nader was defeated.
"There was a very significant 25,603-vote discrepancy between the first two counts, with Nader losing by respective margins of 2,812,339 & 2,837,942, so we decided to conduct hand recount," Florida Attorney General Jim Smith recounted.
"We now know that Nader lost by precisely 2,821,278 votes."
Nations goes nuts about Florida vote and its affect on the presidential election.

American Football Poem

Some time . . . when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, . . .. but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy.

spoken by Pat O'Brian about George Gipp, played by Ronald Reagan

Knute Rockne--All American [1940]