Bob Fisher, Pictures from the Past, Winter, 2000

“Yes, it is Bob Fisher, CLP---in his Mickey Mouse shirt, hat and shopping bag reminding us to circle September 14-17 for the next Annual Conference in Orlando. See ya.”

UAEL Newsline, Winter, 2000

Today: Senior Vice-President, Business Development for
Tom Depping’s Ascentium Capital (see “New Hires”)

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Classified Ads--- Senior Management

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

Europe 25+ yrs exper. management roles Chase, AT&T Capital, Heller Financial, SFS. Develop biz from “scratch to success”. Looking for challenging & pioneering job. Email: frans@alliedproperty.net

Philadelphia, PA 27 yrs. exp. sales, ops., credit, strategy, P&L mngmet. Most recently created & executed the biz plans for 2 highly successful Bank-owned small ticket leasing subsidiaries. email: mccarthy2020@comcast.net

Southern CA 20 years exp. as hands-on leasing CFO, managing accounting, treasury, FP&A, including securitizations, Great Plains/FRx, budgets, risk management.  MBA.  Also available as interim Controller/CFO, consultant. Email: leasecfo@gmail.com

 

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

John Kenny Receivables Management • End of Lease Negotiations & Enforcement • Fraud Investigations • Credit Investigations • Asset Searches • Skip-tracing • Third-party Commercial Collections john@jkrmdirect.com | ph 315-866-1167| www.jkrmdirect.com

 

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Please send to a colleague and ask them to subscribe.

We are Free!!!

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New Hires/ Promotions

Bob Fisher has been appointed Senior Vice President, Business Development for Ascentium Capital, Houston, Texas. Previously he was vice-president, small business banker, Bank of America (February, 2011--September, 2011), Executive Vice-President, National Sales Manager, Main Street Bank, Kingwood, Texas (December 2004-2010),, Sales Manager, Nassau Asset (2003- 2004),, President, FireRock Capital (2002-2003) President, Fisher Anderson, LC (1996-2002)National Credit Manager, New Era Funding (1993-1996), National Credit Manager, Datronic Rental Corporation (1990-1993), CIT ((1987(perhaps earlier)-1990))The College of New Jersey BS, health and physical education (1965 – 1973 ).UAEL - Past President 2002.United States Marine Corps
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bob-fisher/1b/496/82b

Joseph "Joe” D. Hines named Senior Vice President, Regional Sales Director of the Bank Client Group for SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing Corp., Atlanta, Georgia. He joined the firm June, 2001. Previously he was SVP-Sales Manager, Huntington Bank Equipment Finance (January, 2004-June, 2011), Sales, M&I Equipment Finance (1998-2004). Ohio University (1994 – 1998).
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joe-hines/7/525/62b

Michael Hong of Atlanta, Georgia has joined Taycor Financial, Los Angeles, California, and Boston, Massachusetts as Director of Business Development and Marketing. "In preparation Hong expects to recruit, train, and grow the sales department through the end of the year and into 2012. He brings 10 years of equipment finance and leasing industry experience from a direct competition to Taycor. Previously served as the VP of Business Development for a nationwide leasing company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Preston Porter has been named Sales Manager at GE Capital Solutions, working out of the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida area. Previously he was Senior Sales Manager, CIT Group (January, 2000-August, 2011), Sales Manager, AT&T Capital (1998-2000), Sales, Becton, Dickinson and Company (1992-1995). Florida State University BS, Economics (1985 – 1988). Activities and Societies: Kappa Alpha Order
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/preston-porter/19/8b4/4a9

Michael Roquemore hired as national account manager for the southwestern U.S., Tip Capital, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He will be based out of Houston, Texas. "He has held previous senior sales and marketing positions at US Bank, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance and Bank of America"

Peter "Pete" D. Wheeler has joined Wells Fargo's Global Treasury Management Group, Cleveland, Ohio, as senior vice president and healthcare segment team leader. "He will lead team in Charlotte, N.C. that sells cash management services to health care businesses." Previously he was senior vice-president, Wells Fargo (September 2007-September, 2011), Senior Vice-President, Bank of America (February, 2002-September, 2007), Director of Product Development, InMar Enterprises (June, 1998-February, 2002), Senior Vice-President, Barnett Banks (1988-1998).Saint Lawrence University BS, Economics (1978 – 1982).
http://www.linkedin.com/in/petewheeler

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Bulletin Board Complaint Procedure---Up-Date

It has been quite some time since I have written about the procedure, the purpose, and actually how many complaints Leasing News receives. Since the first one appeared June 1, 2000, there have been over 3,500 leasing company complaints, perhaps more. Most do not make the Bulletin Board and are “resolved.”

Recently the Leasing News Advisory Board reviewed the policy and decided not to change it. One of the consequences of being on the Bulletin Board is Leasing News does not accept advertising from companies who make the list, as well as endorsement, such as being added to the “Story Credit List” or to be recommended by Leasing News when such inquiries are made.

In the first few years, I would write a column every other week regarding complaints Leasing News was working on, not naming the parties, but giving the incidents. As more and more were aware about the "Action News" or "Ombudsman,” the list was growing too quickly, too many changes, and just couldn’t keep up.

At first, they came from brokers who had run into a customer who had a bad experience, then it was the vendors, then the actual applicant themselves, and today the search engines have brought us to the top. Leasing News does not receive any remuneration, nor accepts gifts, and often the referring broker may get business from the party with the complaint, which Leasing News does not participate.

What has happened in the eleven years now of doing Bulletin Board Complaints, companies that remain in the archives and Bulletin Board find these stories appearing in Bing, Google, Yahoo, to name the most popular. Although Leasing News now only has three editions a week, not five as we once had (and holidays goes down to two), the number of hits is eight times the amount of our competitors combined, according to web statistics. The more hits, the higher you are in the search engine, so a story about these companies that was not seen much a few years ago, now is in the top ten, or sometimes the top one.

It is common to be contacted about stories written, to make changes, and to request the complaint be removed. June 23, 2006, the policy was changed that a party who resolved a complaint, it would be removed, with caveat any new complaint would bring up the old complaints again. (1)

At present time, Leasing News receives four or five complaints a week; some take a month or more to resolve, and the process is time consuming as the party must present all the documents, correspondence, and email to verify thier claim. Then the other side is presented with these materials and asked if there are missing documents, a statement or comment regarding the claim. An hour to two hours a day are spent on these Monday-to-Friday.

Leasing News role was to determine if the complaint was "legitimate," meaning valid, and if not resolved, which might means "negotiated," "compromised," or "settled," it would appear in Leasing News as well as the Complaint Bulletin Board. It was never the role to say who is right or who is wrong, although some are quite obvious, such as an Evergreen Clauses on $1.00 purchase options, or the lessee has a copy he signed of an original purchase option, but does not have a signed copy from the leasing company. There are also other claims where there is no agreement regarding being paid for time spent and wanting to keep the advance rental because they spent a lot of time, or other issues, such as an approval with an ACH, but the customer won't accept an ACH. Most are an approval at one price, but the lease at another price.

There are also issues over security deposits not being returned and therefore the purchase option not paid or the security deposits applied to the purchase option. A lease starts with one broker, goes to another broker, who discounts to a leasing company that fails, and their portfolio is sold to one company, who later discounts it to another leasing company. Don’t laugh. This is one being considered now.

And this has happened a lot in the last few years, such as the current one with the Bankruptcy Estate of IFC Credit whose lease was assigned to M&T Bank with a $1.00 out, but now the Bankruptcy Estate is billing extra lease payments.

And there are complaints from lessees about a "fair market value," and although the salesman said it was a $1.00, they claim, there is no documentation on it, the salesman is no longer around (in the times a salesman is found, none have remembered the lease) and more importantly, on the face of the contract it says "Fair Market Value" or there is no purchase option document.

Now before you say, the lessee should have read the contract, there are many leasing companies who have a side letter that states "fair market value" is $1.00, and they say this is done for "tax reasons" as the purchase option can't appear on the contract. Or sometimes the original proposal says "fair market value" as does the contract, but the lessee says he was told by the salesman it would not be very much at the end.

And there are times the lessee did not read the contract and didn’t know what they were signing. Some of these come from large companies, not small businesses, and they have no documentation to support their position.

Nevertheless, I would say 98% of the complaints are legitimate, but as you may observe in the Complaint Bulletin Board to follow, almost all are resolved and do not appear below.

Christopher Menkin, editor

(1) June 23, 2006 Policy Change:
http://www.leasingnews.org/policy.htm

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

 

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Alerts and Flags

Bad Boys

"Complaints" Bulletin Board

Customer Complaints ( These are postings for informational purposes. Any response, correction, addition, will be posted. We reserve the right to edit or delete any opinion that is not in good taste)

YEAR 2011 Jules and Associates, Los Angeles, California Bulletin Board Complaint Newport Financial Partners, Newport Beach, California Bulletin Board Complaint Business Leasing Northwest, Seattle, Washington Bulletin Board Complaint--Up-date Snowflake Financial---A new angle Bulletin Board Complaint Leasing Gypsies Strike Again in Southern California Bulletin Board Complaint Business Leasing Northwest, Seattle, Washington Bulletin Board Complaint iFinancial Group, San Clemente, California Bulletin Board Complaint ACC Capital, Midvale, Utah Bulletin Board Complaint Update Benchmark Financial Bulletin Board Complaint Update Bulletin Board Complaint Update YEAR 2010 Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint GCR Capital, Safety Harbor, Florida Bulletin Board Complaint Structured Business Capital, Huntington Beach, CA Updated: Bulletin Board Complaint Structured Business Capital, Huntington Beach, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Barklay Capital, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Balboa Capital, Irvine, California Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Groups, LLC, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Barklay Capital, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Business Direct Capital, Carlsbad, California Bulletin Board Complaint Business Direct Capital, Carlsbad, California Bulletin Board Complaint Worldwide Financial Group, California and Nevada Bulletin Board Complaint Ability Capital Solutions (“ACS” formerly “Matrix”) Long Beach, California Bulletin Board Complaint Matrix Business Capital, Long Beach, California Bulletin Board Complaint YEAR 2009 Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Groups, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Churchill Group/Churchill Leasing, Jericho, NY Bulletin Board Complaint Marlin Leasing, Mount Laurel, New Jersey Bulletin Board Complaint--Up-Date IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois Bulletin Board Complaint--Up-Date IFC Credit Corp. dba First Corp Bulletin Board Complaint--Up-Date IFC Credit Corp. dba First Corp. Bulletin Board Complaint IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Group, Aliso Viejo, CA Bulletin Board Complaint Benchmark Financial Group, Aliso Viejo , CA Bulletin Board Complaint Enterprising Capital Partners, Inc. dba Enterprise Leasing, Spokane, Washington Bulletin Board Complaint IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois - Update IFC Credit, Morton Grove, Illinois American Capital Group, Inc. Irvine, California YEAR 2008 Southwest Credit, San Antonio, TX Balboa Capital, Irvine, California Balboa Capital, Irvine, California Balboa Capital, Irvine, California Alliance Funding Group, Orange, California Omega Capital Partners, Austin, Texas YEAR 2007 Balboa Capital, Irvine, CA William J. "Bill" Weldon dba Production Finance YEAR 2006 Balboa Capital, Irvine, California American Equipment Finance, Warren , NJ YEAR 2005 Ramsgate Leasing Systems, Bergenfield, NJ Bridge Capital Leasing, Mission Viejo, CA YEAR 2004 2nd Bulletin Board Complaint --- Phoenix Alliance, Dana point, Ca. Alert---Harold Bishop, Inc. Summerville, Georgia Lease *Alliance, Bloonfield Hills, MI. 10/4/2004 Titus Holding, Eureka, Montana 9/21/2004 Phoenix Alliance, Dana Point, Ca 9/16/2004 Union Capital, Irvine, California Dimension Funding, Irvine, California Bridge Capital, Lake Forest, California --- Third Bulletin Board Complaint Bridge Capital, Lake Forest, California---Two Complaints YEAR 2003 Avalon Southwest, Ken Hartley, Dallas Texas Aventura Funding Corp. Dania, Florida 11/11/2003 Abacus Leasing --- 2/10/2003 YEAR 2002 Triangle Financial Services 12/3/2002 Precom “Rescinds” Acquisition of Saddleback Financial's Assets 8/21/2002 The Funding Tree Stories---also see Bad Boys Photoshop Owner: Open Complaint 7/16/2002 Saddleback Financial, Orange, CA-Salesmen/ Vendors Not Paid   7/3/2002 MSM Capital, Irvine, California 5/23/02---also see Bad Boys Molloy and Associates/MonitorDaily Complaint 5/20/2002 Flex Lease, Plano, Texas Complaint 1/10/2002 YEAR 2001 Tribex Capital Resume Fraud 11/05/2001 Regional Sales Manager for Saddleback Financial  11/05/2001 Parker Leasing, Ft. Lauderdale,FL 10/08/2001 Fraud Alert Telecom Management Washington Communications 7/20/01 Ted Pierce---Colonial Pacific/GE Lament 7/11/01 Fraud Alert: Vector Services, Granite Bay, Ca. 7/3/01 U.S. Capital, Santa Barbara, California 2/14/2001 Lease Capital/Martin J. Barteske Complaint 1/06/2001 YEAR 2000 NAELB Expels Lease Capital Corporation/Principal Martin J. Barteske 11/16/2000 FMC Leasing Confirms Gibraltor Financial Complaint 10/05/2000 Gibraltor Financial Complaint 10/04/2000 Leasing Network Purchase Option Problems 7/26/2000 Universal Capital reported by Citation Financial 7/19/2000 Universal Capital Service 7/5/2000 Universal Finance/Manufacturing 6/12/2000 Metropolitan Group Question 6/1/2000

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US Business Capital Joins "Broker/Lessor" List

US Business Capital (division of Capital Hill Funding, LLC) Long Beach, CA Donald Kim dkim@usbusinesscap.com Ph#: 562.246.6787 Fax: 562.683.0036 877.789.4635 x105 www.USbusinesscap.com NAELB

2007

4

Nationwide

$5,000

Y

N

N

Y

Y

 

A - City Business License | B- State License | C - Certified Leasing Professional | D - State(s) sales/use tax license |E - Named as "lessor" on 50% or more of lease contract signed. |

Full "Broker-Lessor" List "A"
http://www.leasingnews.org/Brokers/broker_Lessor.htm

****Announcement****************************************

VIII Latin American Leasing Conference
sponsored by The Alta Group

November 18-19
Intercontinental Hotel at Doral Miami

A “Who’s Who” in Latin America Leasing will be present, as well as United States experts such as accounting expert and well-known author Shawn Halladay.

This year, the conference will examine how leasing companies of the region have managed to survive the global economic crisis, while it will also review the strategic challenges of the leasing industry in the region, i.e. such that drive to the right path all lessors business plans towards sustainable objectives and goals in the real world, and towards priority tactics, such who help to cope with daily challenges.

Important subjects such as the impact of the future accounting standards for leasing, including also the analysis of the forthcoming implementation of Basel III. Furthermore, the conference will examine certain very important opportunities for capital investment in Latin America and the potentially profitable participation of leasing companies in such economic development.

Similar to former years, we will examine the performance of the leasing industry in Latin America, taking as starting point all data published by The Alta LAR100 for year end of 2009, and showing information and discussion topics led by the main representatives of the leasing industry in the region.

This is a unique chance to know the actual status of the leasing industry in Latin America and to understand what is going on with regards to legal, regulatory, accounting, tax and market issues affecting the industry.

In addition, all attendees will have the chance to network and exchange experiences with their colleagues and funding sources, and to meet representatives of the most important equipment manufacturers and vendors interested in contacting lessors to finance their sales.

* The conference will have simultaneous translation English/Spanish

Cost: $1,485

Brochure with Program, Registration/Hotel Information:
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/Latin_American_Leasing_Conference.pdf

Hotel Web Site:
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/miahc

*****Announcement**************************************

Comprehensive personal property tax outsourcing services We accept file exports and integrate personal property tax information with all lease management or accounting software. No other firm offers the combination of individual attention, software capabilities expertise, "full disclosure" and web port accessibility to information more than we do. Click here to learn what our clients say about our service Gary DiLillo, President 216-658-5618 or gary@avptc.com

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

NATIONWIDE SALES POSITIONS AVAILABLE Medical app only to 200k, Commercial app only to 150k Superior COF’s-Superior Buying window-Superior back office Please contact Steve Schachtel at 973-339-9900 ext. 101 or email at sschachtel@usfunding.us

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

Please see our Job Wanted section for possible new employees.

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Become a Positive Thinker

Optimism comes from the Latin word optimus, meaning "best," which describes how an optimistic person is always looking for the best in any situation and expecting good things to happen. Optimism is the tendency to believe, expect or hope that things will turn out well. Even if something bad happens, like the loss of a job, or an unfortunate medical diagnosis. Research shows that optimism may be good for my physical health too—optimists are sick less and live longer than pessimists.

How positive thinking can improve your health

Apparently, a positive outlook on life strengthens the immune system (and the body's defenses against illness), cardiovascular system (optimists have fewer heart attacks), and the body's ability to handle stress. So how can you reap the benefits of a positive outlook, even when you tend to view the glass as half empty?

Chris Downey

SparkPeople.com is the largest online diet and healthy living community with over 9 million registered members. You can create a free account to access information, set up goals, make a plan, or just find answers for questions you may have.

* Personalized diet & fitness plans
* Calorie counter, workout tracker, exercise demos & videos
* Answers from our dietitians & trainers on message boards
* Connect with others like you in our support teams

http://www.sparkpeople.com/

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Film and DVD Reviews by Fernando Croce

Sent from the Toronto Film Festival,
which next week hope to have a report.

A harrowing thriller (“Contagion”) and a tough sports drama (“Warrior”) leave their mark in theaters, while a comedy hit (“Bridesmaids”) and a pair of French gems (“”The Princess of Montpensier” and “Carlos”) hit the DVD shelf.

New in Theaters:

Contagion (Warner Bros. Pictures): Versatile Oscar-winner Steve Soderbergh (“Traffic”) takes viewers on a smart and scary thrill-ride with this all-star thriller. Incorporating science-fiction elements into a disaster-movie format, it follows a large group of interconnected characters as they react to the worldwide outbreak of an epidemic disease. Among those trying to make sense of the virulent chaos are married couple Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Mitch (Matt Damon), clinical specialists Ellis (Laurence Fishburne) and Leonora (Marion Cotillard), and paranoid blogger Alan (Jude Law). Pulled together with a palpable sense of dread, these vignettes provide a chilling snapshot of humanity during a time of crisis, dealing not just with a devastating virus but also with their own personal problems. Fast-paced and provocative, Soderbergh’s movie tickles the mind even as it makes the skin crawl.

Warrior (Lionsgate): This year gets its own “The Fighter” with this powerful sports drama following the lives of two brothers from a broken home into the fighting ring. Tommy (Tom Hardy) is an ex-Marine who returns to his Pittsburg hometown in hopes of entering a high-stakes mixed martial arts contest with the help from his father (Nick Nolte), a former boxing coach. Though the event gives him a new lease of life, it also strains Tommy’s relationship with his older brother Brenan (Joel Edgerton), who has a past of his own in this brutal sport. Will the family be split apart or brought closer? Directed by Gavin O’Connor (“Pride and Glory”), the movie is a moody, emotional portrait of underdog struggle and family relations that’s sure to be remembered come time for Oscar nominations.

Netflix Tip: Netflix Recommendation: A dependable actor who infused scores of roles with serious intelligence, Cliff Robertson (1923-2011) has passed away this past weekend. Though better known to younger viewers for his appearances in the “Spider Man” movies, he had a five-decade career full of solid performances. Check out Netflix for some of his best work, including “Autumn Leaves” (1955), “Underworld U.S.A.” (1961), his Oscar-winning performance in “Charly” (1968), “Three Days of the Condor” (1975) and “Obsession” (1976).

New on DVD:

Bridesmaids (Universal Pictures): Long relegated to killjoy secondary roles in frat-guy comic hits like “Knocked Up” and “The Hangover,” women take the center stage with riotous results in this tart tale of female friendship, competition and cattiness. Best known for her “Saturday Night Live” characters, Kristen Wiig shines as Annie, whose messy life takes a sharp turn when she agree to be the maid of honor for her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). Making sure the wedding ceremony is all set sounds like a simple enough job, but with the accident-prone Annie saddled with four wacky bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Ellie Kamper, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Melissa McCarthy), nothing is sure to go as planned. Directed by Paul Feig, this is a rollicking ensemble comedy that remains sharp and endearing even at its crudest.

The Princess of Montpensier (IFC Films): The swashbuckler genre is thrillingly revived in this exceptional French drama, which combines history with adventure to ripping effect. Set during the religious war between Catholics and Protestants that swept 16th-century France, it follows the travails of Marie (Melanie Thierry), the lovely young aristocrat who pines for dashing Henri (Gaspard Ulliel) even as her hand in marriage is promised to a man she’s never met. When her new husband is called to the battlefront and she meets the worldly Count of Chabbanes (Lambert Wilson), Marie becomes involved in the dangerous world of royal intrigue. Director Bertrand Tavernier, a highly regarded veteran of French cinema, is a marvel at bringing sweep and immediacy to costume dramas, and this gem finds him in top form. With subtitles.

Carlos (Criterion): It’s ironic that one of the best movies of 2010 was really comprised from episodes of a French TV miniseries, but then again, anything goes when the subject is notorious 1970s revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, better known as Carlos the Jackal. In this long but never boring biopic about the Venezuelan terrorist, Carlos (played with magnetic force by Edgar Ramirez) is depicted as a mysterious mixture of bravado, idealism and arrogance, even at one point giving autographs to the diplomats in the airplane he’s hijacked. But will his self-styled mission serve his original ideals or only destroy them? The story sprawls across years, countries and languages, but director Olivier Assayas keeps it all fluid with a propulsive style that gives the movie its blend of analysis and excitement. With subtitles.

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

Mortgage Broker Lies on Tax Return re: Commissions

Los Angeles, Ca. James Wiggins, 34, was ordered by United States District Judge A. Howard Matz to pay $84,560 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for charges that he filed a false tax return with the IRS, plus sentenced to serve six months in a Community Correction Center and five years probation. Wiggins previously pleaded guilty to knowingly subscribing to a false 2005 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040). Wiggins also admitted that he acted similarly with respect to his 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Forms 1040).

According to the plea agreement, during the calendar year 2005, Wiggins worked as a residential mortgage loan originator, receiving a commission on each loan he originated. During the calendar year 2005, Wiggins reported $12,000 of gross receipts on his Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Sole Proprietorship Business. In reality, Wiggins received approximately $367,000 of gross receipts from his residential mortgage origination activities. The criminal tax loss with respect to his 2005 tax return is at least $28,000.

On his U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for the years 2004, 2006, and 2007, Wiggins engaged in similar relevant conduct. The criminal tax loss for each of these years is at least $15,960 for the 2004 year, $22,960 for the 2006 year, and $17,640 for the 2007 year. The total amount of the criminal tax loss for the years 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 is at least $84,560.

The investigation of James Wiggins was conducted by IRS – Criminal Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office.

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

Hoffman Estates, Illinois-- Adopt-a-Dog
(and surrounding area)

Lovie

Animal ID: 11925686
Species: Dog
Breed: Havanese/Mix
Age: 4 years 1 month
Sex: Male
Size: Small
Color: Grey/Beige

“I was one of 27 dogs living in a small moblie home with a hoarder. Conditions were so extreme, my owner had a hard time keeping up with us. We were finally saved by an animal rescue group that brought us to AHF. That's where I was told we would have a wonderful life, be well kept, and well feed. My new foster home is great but I do need to find a permanent home.

“Since I've been in my new foster home, I have come along way. My foster mommy think's I'm a wonderful little boy. I do know that I'm suppose to go outside to go potty but I still have some accident's inside as well. I do like to play with the sqeaky toys and chew on bones. I have learned how to walk on leash and love to go on walks. I love to have my belly rubbed.

“I understand that I'm not a perfect little boy yet but with the situation I came from, I am making good progress. So If you have a little bit of patience to help me learn how be a great little boy, maybe you're the one I'm looking for. I promise that I won't take up much room in my new forever home. So what do think? Would you be my forever home?

“You can see me on you tube at 27 dogs saved.”

This dog has come a long way and is much improved from when saved.

Phone for Bio: 630-244-6267
Email for Bio: Lisamp30@aol.com

“I was rescued by Almost Home Foundation and am now safe. You can meet me at one of our next adoption shows.”

This pet also is eligible for 30 days of pre-paid pet health insurance. For more information please visit www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-PETS.

Visit ThePetangoStore.com for discounted prices on pet medication and supplies! Low prices on Flea/Tick, Heartworm & more! Receive a 10% discount on your first order.

Almost Home Foundation
http://www.almosthomefoundation.org/newsite_aboutus.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/

Mr. Terry Winders, CLP Anaheim, California December 12-14th Two and One Half-Day Seminar sponsored by Commerce National Bank 3818 E. Coronado Street, Suite 100 Anaheim, CA 92807 The seminar will contain information on how to approach leasing in 2012 with the following subjects: New lease language Proposed new accounting rules for lessee's Structuring and pricing for competition Income tax rules, Article 2A vs. Article 9 New reasons to lease Questions to ask lessee Vendor needs Credit enhancements Documentation issues and a take home assignment to see how to propose a lease. Cost $450 per person To request a complete outline contact: leaseconsulting@msn.com or for questions call 502-649-9448

News Briefs---

Bank Cost (OTS) of Funds Report
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/CostofFundsReport.pdf

Mortgage rates drop to another record low
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/mortgage-rates-drop-to-another-record-low.aspx?ic_id=tsFS1

5 Central Banks Move to Supply Cash to Europe
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/business/global/borrowing-costs-stubbornly-high-at-spanishauction.html?_r=1&ref=business

Man arrested in London over UBS's $2B unauthorized trades loss
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/
man_arrested_in_london_over_ubs_TizKjOnx6F2pqsgeiJce8L

St. Louis-area foreclosures on the rise again
http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/building-blocks/article_f86c68f8-dfa9-11e0-942d0019bb30f31a.html

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You May Have Missed---

US Post Office to cut 35,000, Close 487 Mail Process Facilities
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110915-711749.html

 

 

California Nuts Briefs---

$26 Million Ponzi Real Estate Scheme--Five Arrested in Sacramento
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/09/five-sacramenta.html

200 to 300 Three year old Trout Stolen from Hatchery
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/14/2538929/trout-hatchery-theft-violated.html

Foreclosure crisis to crush Oakland home values by $12 billion
http://www.mercurynews.com/business-headlines/ci_18897023?nclick_check=1

Silicon Valley foreclosures rise from July to August
http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_1890090

Fire damages French Laundry chef's bakery
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/15/BAAG1L529R.DTL

"Gimme that wine"---

California’s Vintners Play Waiting Game with Late Harvest
http://leasingnews.org/PDF/CaliforniaVintners.pdf

Wineries Win Financing for Upgrades
http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=92384&
htitle=Wineries%20Win%20Financing%20for%20Upgrades&

Napa Harvest report: Light crop and late year expected
http://napavalleyregister.com/calistogan/lifestyles/harvest-report-light-crop-and-late-year-expected/article_ce860a56-df24-11e0-9b2c-001cc4c002e0.html

Chateau Montelena Winery Completes Fourth Decade of 50 Year Plan
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/12/3903176/chateau-montelena-winery-completes.html

Do good glasses make bad wine better?
http://napavalleyregister.com/calistogan/news/opinion/columnists/do-good-glasses-make-bad-wine-better/article_b7be1e86-df23-11e0-bc52-001cc4c002e0.html

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

   1620- the Mayflower departs from Plymouth, England with 102 passengers and a small crew. On board were 48 crew members and 101 colonists (including 35 Separatists from Leiden, Holland, known afterward as the Pilgrims). During the three-month voyage, two passengers died and two babies were born. Vicious storms were encountered en route which caused serious doubt about the wisdom of continuing, but she reached Provincetown, MA, Nov21, and discharged the Pilgrims at Plymouth, MA, Dec 26.1620.
    1672-While her actual birthday is not known, this is the official date proclaimed by the governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to honor Anne Bradstreet, America's first poet who is also recognized as the first published woman poet in the English language. Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612 in England and came to America in 1630. Unbeknownst to Anne, her brother-in-law took some of her poetry back to England where it was published in 1630 as Te Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America. Subsequent editions were also published in Boston. She died at Andover, MA.
    1782- Continental Congress President John Hanson along with Secretary Charles Thomson made the first impression of the Great Seal of the United States on a document authorizing General George Washington to negotiate and sign an agreement with the British for the exchange, subsistence, and better treatment of prisoners of war.
    1810-Mexican Independence Day. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla summoned the largely Indian and mestizo congregation of his small Dolores parish church and urged them to take up arms and fight for Mexico's independence from Spain.
( lower half of: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep16.html )
    1881-an early snowfall across northwestern Iowa and southern Minnesota dropped up to 6 inches (at Stuart, Iowa)
    1887---Birthday of Louise Arner Boyd, American geographer who led eight arctic expeditions. A part of Greenland was named after her. In 1960 became the first woman councilor in the 108-year history of the American Geographical Society. During World War II she became a valued, and irreplaceable technical expert with the War Department by utilizing her encyclopedic scientific knowledge, her experiences, and her thousands of maps, and photographs of the entire Arctic region from Greenland to Scandinavia. She was indispensable in locating little-known fjords which had became safe havens for German U-boats. LAB was the first woman to fly over the North Pole. LAB wrote several authoritative books on the arctic.
    1889-Birthday of Claude A. Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press. ranked by Ebony magazine as among the one hundred most influential black Americans, founded the Associated Negro Press (ANP) in 1919 and remained its director through nearly half a century of social change. By providing its member newspapers with coverage of activities within black communities across the country and current national trends and events, the ANP helped create a national black culture and increased black awareness of national news. Died, 1967
http://newswatch.sfsu.edu/milestones/decade1910_barnett.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0838631371/inktomi-bkasin-20/
104-1488333-3847140
    1893 - The largest land run in history begins with more than 100,000 people pouring into the Cherokee Strip of Oklahoma to claim valuable land that had once belonged to Native Americans. No more eager than the whites to leave their green and well-watered lands for the arid plains, some Indians resisted and had to be removed by force-most tragically, the 4,000 Cherokee who died during the brutal overland march known appropriately as the "Trail of Tears." Pressure steadily increased to open the Indian lands to settlement, and in 1889, President Benjamin Harrison succumbed and threw open large areas of unoccupied Indian lands to white settlement. The giant Cherokee Strip rush was only the largest of a series of massive "land runs" that began in the 1890s, with thousands of immigrants stampeding into Oklahoma Territory and establishing towns like Norman and Oklahoma City almost overnight.
    1903-Birthday of Buck McFarland (Barrelhouse Buck),Alton, IL
    1903-Birthday of violinist Joe Venuti, Philadelphia, PA
    1908-the giant automobile manufacturing company called General Motors was founded by William Crapo “Billy” Durant, a Flint, Ml, entrepreneur.
http://www.libertyhaven.com/thinkers/billydurant/billy.html
    1921-Birthday of singer/composer Jon Hendricks, Newark,OH
http://www.jazzter.nl/jon.html
http://www.harmonyware.com/JonHendricks/
    1924—Birthday of Lauren Bacall, model, film and stage actress, and writer - and national icon. LB won the 1970 Tony Award for her work in the musical Applause. She wrote several autobiographies beginning with the best-selling Lauren Bacall by Myself (1978). An ingénue, she shot into film stardom opposite the much older Humphrey Bogart whom she married. She developed into a fine actor and her personal dignity through the years has made her a much respected and loved figure.
    1925 Singer/guitarist Riley “BB” King birthday
http://www.bbking.com/
    1925-Birthday of jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd.
http://www.gfmusic.com/newcharlie99.html
http://www.classicjazzguitar.com/artists/artists_page.jsp?artist=54
    1928 -the San Felipe hurricane struck Palm Beach, FL with enormous damage, Peak winds were near 150 mph. the high winds and storm waves broke the eastern dike on Lake Okeechobee, inundating flat farmland. 1836 people drowned and damage exceeded $25 million
    1933 -- Emperor Jones, starring Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones, is released by United Artists. It is Robeson's first starring movie role and the first major Hollywood production starring an African-American with whites in supporting roles.
    1933--"Are You Makin' Any Money?" by Chick Bullock & His Levee Loungers. This pervasive question of the era was first sung in the film, Moonlight & Pretzels. The clever Herman Hupfeld wrote the tune two years after 1931's "As Time Goes By." Vocalist Chick Bullock was featured on over 500 titles in the 1930s, often accompanied by New York's finest jazzmen. Worthy of note in this performance are trumpeter Manny Weinstock and Jimmy Dorsey on clarinet.
http://recollectionbooks.com/siml/library/mirror/Depressionmusic2.html
http://www.authentichistory.com/audio/1930s/music/1930s_music_01.html
    1933-the Carolina-Virginia hurricane hit Cape Hatteras with winds to 76 mph. Great winds damage was done in Virginia and Maryland. 21 died.
    1938- Dorsey Band records “Boogie Woogie”
    1940- The Burke-Wadsworth Act is passed by Congress, by wide margins in both houses, and the first peacetime draft in the history of the United States is imposed. Selective Service was born. The registration of men between the ages of 21 and 36 began exactly one month later, as Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who had been a key player in moving the Roosevelt administration away from a foreign policy of strict neutrality, began drawing draft numbers out of a glass bowl. The numbers were handed to the president, who read them aloud for public announcement. There were some 20 million eligible young men-50 percent were rejected the very first year, either for health reasons or illiteracy (20 percent of those who registered were illiterate). In November 1942, with the United States now a participant in the war, and not merely a neutral bystander, the draft ages expanded; men 18 to 37 were now eligible. Blacks were passed over for the draft because of racist assumptions about their abilities and the viability of a mixed-race military. But this changed in 1943, when a "quota" was imposed, meant to limit the numbers of blacks drafted to reflect their numbers in the overall population, roughly 10.6 percent of the whole.
    1944--PRESTON, ARTHUR MURRAY Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Reserve, Torpedo Boat Squadron 33. Place and date. Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, 16 September 1944. Entered service at: Maryland. Born: 1 November 1913, Washington, D.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commander, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 33, while effecting the rescue of a Navy pilot shot down in Wasile Bay, Halmahera Island, less than 200 yards from a strongly defended Japanese dock and supply area, 16 September 1944. Volunteering for a perilous mission unsuccessfully attempted by the pilot's squadron mates and a PBY plane, Lt. Comdr. (then Lieutenant) Preston led PT-489 and PT-363 through 60 miles of restricted, heavily mined waters. Twice turned back while running the gauntlet of fire from powerful coastal defense guns guarding the 11-mile strait at the entrance to the bay, he was again turned back by furious fire in the immediate area of the downed airman. Aided by an aircraft smokescreen, he finally succeeded in reaching his objective and, under vicious fire delivered at 150-yard range, took the pilot aboard and cleared the area, sinking a small hostile cargo vessel with 40-mm. fire during retirement. Increasingly vulnerable when covering aircraft were forced to leave because of insufficient fuel, Lt. Comdr. Preston raced PT boats 489 and 363 at high speed for 20 minutes through shell-splashed water and across minefields to safety. Under continuous fire for 2l/2 hours, Lt. Comdr. Preston successfully achieved a mission considered suicidal in its tremendous hazards, and brought his boats through without personnel casualties and with but superficial damage from shrapnel. His exceptional daring and great personal valor enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
    1946-Les Brown cuts “ I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”
    1946-Banjoist Earl Scruggs first recorded with Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. His three-fingered picking style became one of the trademarks of bluegrass music. Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt left Monroe in 1948 to form their own group, the Foggy Mountain Boys. Flatt and Scruggs's partnership lasted for more than 20 years.
    1948- Joe DiMaggio hits his 300th career home run joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein and Hank Greenberg as the only major leaguers to reach this milestone.
    1950—Birthday of Author/Outstanding Critic Henry Louis Gates Jr.
http://www.neh.fed.us/whoweare/gates/biography.html
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~afroam/Faculty/Henry_Louis_Gates__Jr_/
henry_louis_gates__jr_.html
    1950---Top Hits
Mona Lisa - Nat King Cole
Goodnight Irene - The Weavers
Tzena, Tzena, Tzena - The Weavers
Goodnight Irene - Red Foley-Ernest Tubb
    1951--VITTORI, JOSEPH Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Hill 749, Korea, 15 and 16 September 1951. Entered service at: Beverly, Mass. Born: 1 August 1929, Beverly, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an automatic-rifleman in Company F, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With a forward platoon suffering heavy casualties and forced to withdraw under a vicious enemy counterattack as his company assaulted strong hostile forces entrenched on Hill 749, Cpl. Vittori boldly rushed through the withdrawing troops with 2 other volunteers from his reserve platoon and plunged directly into the midst of the enemy. Overwhelming them in a fierce hand-to-hand struggle, he enabled his company to consolidate its positions to meet further imminent onslaughts. Quick to respond to an urgent call for a rifleman to defend a heavy machine gun positioned on the extreme point of the northern flank and virtually isolated from the remainder of the unit when the enemy again struck in force during the night, he assumed position under the devastating barrage and, fighting a single-handed battle, leaped from 1 flank to the other, covering each foxhole in turn as casualties continued to mount manning a machine gun when the gunner was struck down and making repeated trips through the heaviest shellfire to replenish ammunition. With the situation becoming extremely critical, reinforcing units to the rear pinned down under the blistering attack and foxholes left practically void by dead and wounded for a distance of 100 yards, Cpl. Vittori continued his valiant stand, refusing to give ground as the enemy penetrated to within feet of his position, simulating strength in the line and denying the foe physical occupation of the ground. Mortally wounded by the enemy machine gun and rifle bullets while persisting in his magnificent defense of the sector where approximately 200 enemy dead were found the following morning, Cpl. Vittori, by his fortitude, stouthearted courage, and great personal valor, had kept the point position intact despite the tremendous odds and undoubtedly prevented the entire battalion position from collapsing. His extraordinary heroism throughout the furious nightlong battle reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
    1951-”Sky King” TV premiere. This half-hour children's adventure series began on radio in 1947. Kirby Grant starred as Schuyler J. (Sky) King, owner of the Flying Crown.
    1954-Birthday of guitarist Earl Klugh, Detroit, MI
    1955-The United States Auto Club (USAC) was formed to supervise four major categories of auto racing.
    1958---Top Hits
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno
It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards
Rock-in Robin - Bobby Day
Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers
    1959-- Dick Clark's first "Caravan of Stars" tour opens in New York, featuring The Coasters, The Drifters, Lloyd Price, LaVern Baker, Duane Eddy, Paul Anka and Annette Funicello.
    1960-Johnny Burnette records the original version of "You're 16", which will rise to #8 in the US. Fourteen years later, Ringo Starr would take the same song to #1.
    1960-College football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg age 95 (1864-1965) announced his retirement after seventy-one years on the field. Stagg's career coincided with the evolution of the game from an amalgam of soccer and rugby into American football as we know it.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep16.html
    1963 - "She Loves You" was recorded by The Beatles on the Swan label. It was the first record recorded by The Beatles; but the second single by the ‘Fab Four' to hit #1. "I Want to Hold Your Hand", was the group's first #1 song and million seller (on Capitol). It beat "She Loves You" to the top spot by just a few weeks. Other Beatles hits were also recorded on Capitol (Capitol had rejected "She Loves You") and Swan labels; but the Beatles liked variety -- so add these record companies to the Beatles list of recording labels: Vee-Jay, MGM, Tollie, United Artists, Atco, E.M.I., Parlaphone and Apple.
    1964-Concord, NH drops to 27 degrees ending the shortest growing season on record (100 days.)
    1964- the rock 'n' roll TV show "Shindig" premiered on ABC. Guests on the first show were Sam Cooke, Bobby Sherman, the Everly Brothers and the Righteous Brothers. The house band, the Shindogs, included such musicians as Leon Russell and Delaney Bramlett. And among the Shindig Dancers was future actress Teri Garr. Such was the drawing power of the show that the Beatles were paid only $1,400 to appear during the first season - at the height of Beatlemania. "Shindig" began its second season with a bang, snagging the Rolling Stones for the first show and expanding to two nights a week. But it was downhill after that, with such guest hosts as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hedy Lamarr and Boris Karloff. "Shindig" was cancelled in January 1966.
    1965-- The Beatles' "Eight Days a Week" is certified gold
    1965- Duke Ellington gives sacred concert in San Francisco.
    1965 - San Francisco's Grace Cathedral became the site of the first concert of sacred music presented by Duke Ellington.
    1965 - "The Dean Martin Show" debuted on NBC-TV. It was a weekly variety show that continued on the network for nine years. Regulars over the years were The Goldiggers, Ken Lane, The Ding-a-Ling Sisters, Tom Bosley, Dom DeLuise, Nipsey Russell, Rodney Dangerfield and Les Brown and His Band. The theme song? "Everybody Loves Somebody".
    1966-Grateful Dead and Oxford Circle play @ The Avalon Ballroom
Poster Artists: Stanley Mouse, and Alton Kelley
    1966--Grateful Dead at the Avalon Ballroom in S.F.
    1966---Top Hits
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
Almost Persuaded - David Houston
    967-Jimi Hendrix's debut LP, "Are You Experienced?" enters the Billboard Hot 200 album chart, where it will stay for 106 weeks, including 77 weeks in the Top 40.
    1967- “Mannix “premiers on TV. Mike Connors starred as Joe Mannix - a Los Angeles private investigator working for the computer organization Intertect, in this long-running CBS crime series. Joseph Campanella played his boss, Lou Wickersham, during the first season. The show then changed format with Mannix setting up his own agency. The new cast members were Gail Fisher as Peggy Fair, his secretary, Robert Reed as Lieutenant Adam Tobias and Ward Wood as Lieutenant Art Malcolm.
    1968- Richard Nixon appears on "Laugh-in". In “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” television show, this was a $1 million question. The contestant got it right, by the way.
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-1351/epid-74122/
    1970-- Jimi Hendrix makes his final public appearance, jamming with Eric Burdon & War at Ronnie Scott's club in London.
http://www.jimi-hendrix.com/jimihendrix.html
    1971-The first Technical school for Native Americans was the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Albuquerque, NM, a coeducational school that opened with 700 Native American students from 64 tribes. It comprised 12 buildings on a 164-acre campus and cost $13 million. John L. Peterson was the first superintendent.
http://www.sipi.bia.edu/
http://icpac.indiana.edu/education/college_profiles/188216.xml
http://www.humboldt.edu/~hsuitepp/college.html
http://www.sipi.bia.edu/residencespec.htm
    1971- “Owen Marshall” premieres an hour-long ABC drama with Arthur Hill as the title character, a widowed attorney in Santa Barbara. Lee Majors, Reni Santoni and David Soul played his associates. Also featured were Joan Darling as Marshall's secretary and Christine Matchett as his daughter.
    1972--"Black & White" by Three Dog Night topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1974 - President Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft-evaders. Limited amnesty was offered to Vietnam-era draft resisters who would now swear allegiance to the United States and perform two years of public service.
    1974---Top Hits
I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
I'm Leavin It (All) Up to You - Donny & Marie Osmond
Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends - Ronnie Milsap
    1974-- BART begins regular transbay service. In 1962, Marin and San Mateo County withdrew from the plan to raise funds with taxes. Santa Clara County was not included as the Bay Area master plan not only included Marin, but Napa County, where the population growth was to grow. When the cities and county of Napa read the plan, they started enacting laws and prohibitions for growth. Construction began in 1965. The 3.2-mile bore through the hard rock of the Berkeley Hills was completed in February, 1967, after 466 work days, to become the fourth longest vehicular tunnel in the U.S. 1969 the state legislature authorized another tax to finish the project. In subsequent years, the line moved from Daly City (in San Mateo County without a tax initiative) to the San Francisco International Airport, located in Millbrae (San Mateo County). Recently monies were granted for a line to continued from Fremont to San Jose and Santa Clara in the near future. The original idea was to circle the entire San Francisco Bay. One of the key opponents in San Mateo who changed the course of history is Les Kelting, still alive in San Bruno, California. He was against raising any taxes to pay for rapid transit, which he claimed would help the San Francisco Airport more than the residents of San Mateo County.
    1976-In Minneapolis, the 65th Triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church officially approved ordination of women to the priesthood
    1978--After years of condemnation, the Episcopal Church officially recognized the ordination of the 15 women priests who had previously been ordained by consecrated bishops without the hierarchy's official approval.
    1978-The Grateful Dead played a concert in front of the Egyptian Pyramids. The show was recorded but has never been released.
    1978- Boston's LP Don't Look Back hits #1
    1979- At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold Catfish Hunter Day to honor their future Hall of Fame pitcher who will be retiring at the end of the season at the age of 33. A 20-year-old left-hander named Dave Righetti makes his major league debut for the home town team.
    1979-What is generally considered to be the first rap record, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang, was released. Rap developed in the black ghettos of New York City, and consists of rhymed and rhythmical verses chanted over pre-recorded instrumental dance tracks. "Rapper's Delight" confounded the prevailing industry view that rap was an amateur fad with no commercial appeal. The record sold two-million copies.
    1980-Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall officially opened in S.F.
    1981 - Boxer ‘Sugar' Ray Leonard, at age 25, knocked out Thomas ‘The Hit Man' Hearns. Leonard won the welterweight boxing championship -- and the richest payday in boxing history.
    1982---Top Hits
Hard to Say I'm Sorry - Chicago
Jack & Diane - John Cougar
You Should Hear How She Talks About You - Melissa Manchester
She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft) - Jerry Reed 1984 -"Miami Vice" premiers on TV.
http://harley.pcl.ox.ac.uk/~mark/miami/
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0086759
    1983- Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes a US citizen.
    1987- Stealing his 30th base, a career-high, Indian Joe Carter becomes the ninth major leaguer to hit 30 home runs and to swipe 30 bases in the same season.
    1988- Reds' Tom Browning pitches a perfect game against the Dodgers striking out eight and allowing only eight balls to be hit out of the infield in his 1-0 victory. Over three starts including the perfect game he retires 40 consecutive batters - one shy of a major league record.
    1988-(12 th -16 th ) Hurricane Gilbert tore through the Caribbean. On the 12th, it cut through Jamaica with Kingston recording 116 mph sustained winds and gust to 140. 45 people were killed and damage topped $2 billion. Despite 7000 foot mountains, Gilbert didn't weaken at all and after exiting Jamaica, underwent incredible deepening - 72 Mb in 24 hours to 888 Mb (26.22 inches). Sustained winds were recorded at 185 mph with gusts over 200 mph in the Caribbean west of Jamaica. On the 16th the storm came ashore near Las Pesca, Mexico about 125 miles south of Brownsville. Mexico was hard hit with 202 killed and 60,000 homes destroyed. Total damage reached 2 billion dollars. In the U.S. the damage of $50 million was mostly from tornadoes spun off by Gilbert, two in San Antonio and one at Kelly AFB which did $28 million dollars in damage.
    1989-- "Don't Wanna Lose You" by Gloria Estefan topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
    1990---Top Hits
Release Me - Wilson Phillips
Do Me! - Bell Biv DeVoe
Have You Seen Her - M.C. Hammer
Jukebox in My Mind – Alabama
    1993- The TV premiere of “Frasier.” In this spin-off of “Cheers,” psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) has moved to Seattle where he dispenses advice on the radio. He lives with his father Martin (John Mahoney) and Martin's physical therapist Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves). His brother, Dr. Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), frequently asks for Frasier's advice about his love life. Roz Doyle, the producer of Frasier's show, is played by Pen Gilpin.
    1993—Top Hits
Dreamlover, Mariah Carey
Whoomp! (There It Is)- Tag Team
cant Help Falling In Love (From "Sliver")- UB40
If- Janet Jackson
    1995--- Lynn Hill climbs the "nose" of Yosemite's El Capitan with her bare hands. She carries a rope to catch her in case she falls. The world champion rock climber commented: "Society's contrived image of what a woman should be is something I've never agreed with."
    1996- Paul Molitor of the Minnesota Twins got the 3,000 th hit of his career, a triple against Jose Rosado of the Kansas City Royals. the Twins lost, 6-5, Molitor became either the 20 th or 21 st player to reach the 3,000-hit plateau ( depending on whether the list includes Adrian “Cap” Anson, who statistics are in dispute. He was the first to triple for No. 3000.
    1998- In front of 49,891 patrons at San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium, Sammy Sosa ties Mark McGwire by hitting his record-setting 63rd home run. The 434-foot eighth inning two-out blast off Brian Boehringer is a tie-breaking grand slam as 'Slammin' Sammy collects all six RBIs as the Cubs beat the Padres, 6-3.
    1998-Top Hits
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing- Aerosmith
The First Night- Monica
Crush- Jennifer Paige
My Way- Usher
    1999 - Hurricane Floyd stormed ashore, pounding North Carolina with 110 mph winds, dumping more than a foot of rain, damaging 12,000 homes and claiming more than 50 lives. Floyd also caused the largest peacetime evacuation in U.S. history, with 2.6 million people ordered away from the shores in the hurricane's path.
    2000- Cub outfielder Sammy Sosa joins Mark McGwire (1997-99) as the only major leaguer to hit 50HRs three consecutive seasons.
    2002- Giant left fielder Barry Bonds walks three times breaking his own record for base on balls in a season with 178. Approximately one-third of the free passes given to the San Francisco slugger have been intentional (60 out of 178)
    2006-Sixty-Five year old Bob Dylan held the #1 spot on the US album chart with "Modern Times", making him the oldest living musician to ever top the Billboard album chart.