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Maryland Jumps Ship/Connecticut Climbs Aboard
Kenneth C. Greene, Leasing News Legal Editor

In February 2022, Maryland jumped on the commercial financing disclosure bandwagon, becoming one of at least nine states in which there are new laws or bills pending which would mandate disclosures in a wide range of commercial finance transactions. The bill (Senate Bill 825) was similar to New York’s Commercial Finance Disclosure Law, which passed last year.  On April 11, 2022, a mere two months later, Maryland’s Senate Bill 825 died in committee. Whether it will be resurrected or not in the next session is anyone’s guess.

Connecticut’s SB 745 was introduced in February of 2021. According to at least one source, that bill was “legislatively dead” a few months ago. Now, it appears that there is a new Connecticut commercial financing disclosure bill, Senate Bill 272, which is another disclosure bill, though in a somewhat different form. They call it a “raised bill,” generally defined as a “fully drafted bill,” though it suggests a reference to Lazarus, given the fierce opposition the prior bill encountered, sending it to an early grave. The new Connecticut bill:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/TOB/S/PDF/2022SB-00272-R00-SB.PDF

Personally, I find the “law and sausage” behind the scenes activities fascinating. I have been reporting on nine states which have adopted, are considering adopting, or are fine-tuning their commercial financing disclosure laws.

The two most significant states in this arena, California and New York, are still wrestling over the verbiage of the interpretative regulations, years after passage of the actual laws.

New Jersey abandoned Senate Bill 233, replacing it with Senate Bill 819, now under review. Apart from North Carolina, which appears to be headed towards an effective date of May 1, 2022, everything is still in legislative limbo.

Why, gentle reader, might you ask? Perhaps because the initial concept is flawed. I would agree with the original impetus of these laws, pioneered by California’s Senator Steve Glazer, that transparency is necessary to ward off predatory lenders. But, as you might expect, tackling that problem by creating disclosure laws that differ from state to state and from financing product to financing product is not only cumbersome, but extremely difficult, not to mention expensive for small lenders.

• Factoring and merchant cash advances are obvious candidates for not easily fitting within the disclosure formulae, as are any types of loans or leases with irregular payments schedules.

• Perhaps, with good intentions, these legislators are biting off more than they can chew, and are finding it very difficult to get these laws across the finish line.

• Only time will tell whether this recent development in the commercial financing space will move forward, if possible, or retreat, if necessary.

Ken Greene Leasing & Finance Observations
https://leasingnews.org/Pages/greene_observations.html

Ken Greene
Tel: 818.575.9095
Fax: 805.435.7464
ken@kengreenelaw.com
Alternate: kengreenelaw@outlook.com

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Equipment Lease and Finance Association Reports
Record Turnout at Chicago Events

This week a record number of members are convening in Chicago for a host of association events. More than 240 industry professionals attended the Women’s Leadership Forum on April 11-12.

Attendance is expected to surpass 680 members at the National Funding Conference, 140 at the Best Practices Roundtables and 100 at the first-ever People Power Networking Event. Members expressed excitement about learning, networking and doing business together in Chicago for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Leasing News will have a report of the Funding Conference next week from Hugh Swandel, President, Meridian OneCap Credit Corporation. He has reported on many events and conferences for Leasing News and is an active participant on the Advisory Board since 2011.

The Survey of Consumer Sentiment had a
“change of heart” and Jumped 6.3 points
BY Dr. Dan Geller

Miraculously, the preliminary April University of Michigan Survey of Consumer Sentiment “jumped” 6.3 points to 65.7 after reporting in March the lowest level of consumer sentiment in more than a decade. The irony is that there was no major fundamental change in the U.S. economy except higher inflation in the last couple of weeks. The April Survey of Consumer Sentiment just proves how unreliable and subjective consumer sentiment is vs. actual observation of financial behavior, such as the Money Anxiety Index.

When you ask consumers how they feel about the economy, you get a bleak picture, just as reported by the University of Michigan Survey of Consumer Sentiment. Their March index fell to 59.4; a 3.9 points decline from February and a 30% decline from last year. Yet, retail sales in March increased by 0.5%. When adjusted for inflation, and excluding gas and nonstore purchases, the increase in retail sales is broad-based and even more substantial.

Conversely, the March Money Anxiety Index indicates greater financial confidence by consumers, which matches their retail-sales behavior. The index decreased 2.1 points from last month to 48.1 and down 38.1 points since the index peaked in the beginning of the pandemic in April of 2020. The decrease in the Money Anxiety Index is also reflected in a robust employment report that rose by 431,000 jobs in March.

The Money Anxiety Index is the only objective financial confidence index that measures actual financial behavior of consumers rather than how they respond to surveys. Since what people say is not always what they actually do with their financially, the Money Anxiety Index is the only way to objectively and accurately measure consumers’ financial confidence.

Dr. Dan Geller
Behavioral Economics
for Financial Services
Analyticom LLC
drgeller@analyticom.com
www.analyticom.com
415-891-3093

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Shannah (Fitzgerald) Berger was promoted as Director of Sales Administration, Apex Commercial Capital, a subsidiary of Firstrust Bank, Horsham, Pennsylvania. She joined the firm when it was known as FIrstLease, Inc.,) October 2006, as Operations Supervisor, Equipment Finance Division, promoted March, 2015, Senior Accounts Manger, Equipment Finance Division, promoted 2017, Broker Relationship Manager, Equipment Finance Division, promoted January, 2019, Sales Manager, Equipment Finance Division, promoted Sales Manager, Commercial Mortgage Division, (fka) Apex Mortgage Corporation.  She began her career as Staffing Specialist, Philadelphia Workforce Development. Volunteer: Coach/Director, Norwood Athletic Club (August, 2016 - Present). Trop Leader, Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania (September, 2017 - January, 2021). Education: La Salle University, BA, Communications, Psychology (1999 - 2003).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannah-berger-1018a120/

 
Andre Clifford, CLFP, was hired as Sales Consultant, Quality Leasing Co. Inc., Carmel, Indiana.  He is located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania. "In his new role, Clifford is tasked with expanding and managing his current book of third party originator relationships along with augmenting the company’s business equipment financing reach and customer service program." He joined Bryn Mawr Trust February, 2017, as Document Administrator, promoted August 2017, Underwriting and Funding Manger.  He began his career at Customers Bank, starting June, 2015 as Deposit Operations Project Assistant, promoted September, 2015, Card Services Specialist, promoted August, 2015, ACH Administrator. "Clifford has been actively involved in both AACFB and NEFA since 2017 and earned his Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) designation in 2018.” Education: Penn State University, Bachelor of Science (BS), Economics (2011 -2015). https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreclifford2/

Li Flynn was hired as Vice President, Underwriter, Encina Equipment Finance, Westport, Connecticut. Li Flynn is located in Brooklyn, New York.  Previously, at Amalgamated Bank, starting July, 2011, as Executive Assistant to Chief Credit Risk Management, promoted July, 2013, Credit Analyst, Assistant Manager at Credit Risk Management, promoted September, 2014, Credit Analyst/Assistant Vice President; Operations Manager (intern), Wall Street Creative Partners (October, 2010 - January, 2011); Account Executive, AAE Global Express Shipping (SOHO), Corp. (July, 2009 - May, 2010) (No. 1 Sales Associate measured by Revenue). Education: New York University, Certificate of Credit Analysis (2012 -2013). Baruch College, BBA, Finance (2007 - 2010). Borough of Manhattan Community College, Associate, Business Administration (2007).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/li-flynn-6a635b22/

Howard Golden, was hired as Senior Recruiter, ZRG Partners, New Rochelle, New Jersey.  He is located in New York, New York. Previously, he was at Ascentium Capital, starting February, 2017, and remained in the position when they became a subsidiary or Regions Bank. He was responsible for their growing sales and administration. Prior, he was Senior Director, KLM Bryant Research (January, 2015 - 2017); Vice President, Recruiter, Rainmaker Associates (November, 2009 - March, 2015); Senior Consultant, ZRG Partners (May, 2008 - August, 200(); Executive Recruiter, The Madison Davis Group (April, 1995 - May, 2008). He is the "Owner" of the LinkedIn Group "Equipment Leasing Professionals," with 3,655 connections. Volunteer: Umpire in-Chief, Monroe Woodbury Little League (January, 2005 - Present).  Education: SUNY New Paltz, BS, Marketing. Ramapo High School.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardgolden/

Enrique (Ricky) Magana was hired as Collections Specialist, Toast, Denver Metropolitan Area.  Previously, he was Bilingual Payment Support Specialist, OnDeck (October, 2015 - March, 2020); Financial Sales Consultant, PNC (May, 2015 - September, 2016); Field Marketing Specialist, Thompson Creek Window Company (March, 2014 - May, 2105). Education: Northern Virginia Community College, Associate's degree, Computer Science (August, 2011). https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-ricky-magana-0320a212a/

Michel McClendon has been hired as Managing Director, Utica Equipment Finance, LLC, Sterling Heights, Michigan. He is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Previously, he was Vice President, NFS Leasing (September, 2019 - March, 2022); Managing Senior Financial Consultant, Verizon Capital Services (September, 2015 -  September, 2019); Vice President, First Fidelity Bank (July, 2008 - September, 2015): Managing Partner, Marbella Capital Partners (November, 2004 - July, 2008); Vice President, Venture Investments, IFC Credit Corporations (January, 1999 - November, 2004); President and Chief Financial Officer, Titan Capital Corporation (May, 1995 - November, 1998): Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing, Sentry Financial Corporation, CAS Finance Corporation (September, 1988 - April, 1995); Manager of Operations, supervisor of Operations, Sales/Customer Service Representative, Fidelity Investments (April, 1986 - August, 1988). Volunteer. Rotary Club of Will Rogers, Past President and Treasurer (November, 2008 - Present). President, NatureWorks (January, 2015 - Present). Past Chairman of the Board, Friends of Starlight Concerts (January, 2010 - Present). Education: Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business, MBA (1994 - 1996). Bob Eder Wall Street Training Institute (1988 -1989).  University of Oklahoma, Bachelor of Business Administration, BBA (August, 1980 -May, 1989). University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business, BBA, Management and Finance (1980 - 1985). Societies: Sigma Chi Edison High School (1977 - 1980). https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mcclendon-3348122/

Amanda Rusca was hired as Account Coordinator, Balboa Capital, Costa Mesa, California. She is located in Pleasant Hill, California.  Previously, she was at Partners capital Group, starting October, 2018, Documentation Specialist, promoted August, 2021, Funder. Education: California State University, Fullerton, Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-rusca-685074215/

Robert Stack was hired as Business Development Manager, MAZO Capital Solutions, Los Angeles, California.  He is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Previously, he was Senior Business Development Manger, NewLane Finance (September, 2018 - April, 2022); Real Estate Agent, Page Taft-CHRISTIE'S International Real Estate (March, 2018 - March, 2021); Account Development Representative, BLR (March, 2018 - September, 2018); Business Development Manager, Marlin Business Services Corporation (November, 2013 - February, 2017); Licensed Loan Originator NMLS #749228, Proficio Mortgage Ventures, LLC (April, 2103 - November, 2013); Loan Officer, Absolute Mortgage ( 2012 - April, 2013); Branch Manager, Citizens Bank (October, 2009 - June, 2012); Account Representative, Fairway Medical Services (January, 2010 - August, 2010); T-Mobile, USA, Assistant Manager (May, 2008 - October, 2009); Senior Sales Representative (February, 2007 - May, 2008); Internship/Marketing and Events, Sovereign Bank Arena (January, 2008 - July, 2008). Education: Holy Family University, Bachelor of Science, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services. Villanova University, CAPM, Certified Associates, Project Management (2011); Conwell Egan (1996 - 1999). Bucks County Community College. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-stack-81145918/

Louis Weidt was hired as Relationship Manger, Siemens AG, Munich, Germany. He is located in Westfield, New Jersey. Previously, he was at Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, serving as Vice President (April, 2016 - April, 2022); Territory Manager, ADP Commercial Leasing (November, 2013 - November, 2015); Director, Franchise Finance (Element Financial Corporation (November, 2012 - November, 2013); Vice President, GE Capital, Franchise Finance (August, 2011 - November, 2012); Sales Manager, CIT (July, 2008 - June, 2010); National Account Manager, Vendor Finance, GE Capital (May, 2001 - June, 2008); Director of Financial Services, The Doc.com (September, 2000 - 2001); Vice President, Heller Financial (1996 - 2000).Certification: Green Belt Certified, GE, United Latino Students Association.  Education: Syracuse University, Martin J. Whitman School of Management, Bachelor of Science, Logistics Management/Marketing Management (1985 - 1988).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-weidt-bbb1a715/

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Help Wanted Ads

Report: More than $3.7B in Tax Revenue Finds
Generated in Recreational Cannabis Last Year

A recent report shows that last year states which had legalized cannabis for adult-use cumulatively raked in more than $3.7 billion in tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales.

This report follows up on an analysis the Marijuana Policy Project released at the start of this year, which examined the total adult-use marijuana tax revenue collected by all the states that have legalized cannabis since recreational sales began in Washington State and Colorado.

The organization stated that the total tax revenue generated since recreational sales began in 2014 until March of this year was about $11.2 billion.

Toi Hutchinson, CEO and President of the Marijuana Policy Project, stated that this report offered further evidence that ending marijuana prohibition provided substantial benefits for state governments. In a press release, Hutchinson explained that the regulation and legalization of marijuana for adults had generated billions in revenue, created thousands of employment opportunities in the country and helped fund important programs and services at the state level.

The total the organization arrived at doesn’t include corporate taxes paid to the federal government, income taxes generated by workers in the marijuana industry, licensing and application fees paid by cannabis businesses or tax revenue generated by medical marijuana. This means that the overall impact of legalization on government coffers is even higher than the billions of dollars generated by recreational sales.

Source: CannabisNewsWire.com

 

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

Maxim Commercial Capital Reports
Strong Performance during Q1 2022

Hard-asset based lender funded better
credits, real estate secured cash-out financings

Los Angeles, California – Maxim Commercial Capital (“Maxim”) reported strong results for the first quarter of 2022. The company kicked off the year with record low delinquencies, increased fundings to better credits, and strong demand for cash-out financings secured by real estate and equipment.  

Michael Kianmahd, Executive Vice President, said, “As a closely-held company, we have the luxury of pivoting our business strategy real-time based on market conditions.
“This benefitted us during the pandemic and continues to serve us and our borrowers during today’s volatile global economic conditions. We continue to invest in our operating infrastructure and are seeking to fill a few key positions.”  

Maxim on boarded 40 new finance broker relationships during the first quarter. The lender’s team educated finance brokers on ways to expand their businesses through webinars and the byline article recently published by the AACFB, “Equipment Finance Brokers – Don’t Limit Opportunity! Ask about Real Estate Assets.”

• Cash out financings funded during the first quarter include a $340,000 loan to a growing environmental consulting business in New Jersey secured by first liens on the business owners’ primary residence, a rental property purchased with the financing, and business FF&E.

• An established general contractor and real estate investor in Chicago experiencing customer collections problems borrowed $218,000 from Maxim secured by a first lien on an investment property and second lines on two residential income properties. He used the funds to refinance an expensive MCA loan, complete renovations of an investment property, improve rental properties, and bring a mortgage current.

• With continuing record high class 8 truck prices, Maxim loosened credit standards for certain customer categories during the first quarter. Representative truck purchase transactions included a 2019 Peterbilt 579 purchased for $115,692 by a non-CDL owner of two trucks and two years’ time-in-business; a low mileage 2016 Kenworth T800 purchased for $107,283 by a start-up owner-operator homeowner with a 628 FICO and strong bank statements; and a $108,000 2018 Peterbilt 579 replacement truck for an owner-operator with a 766 FICO who appreciated Maxim’s early payoff option.

Behzad Kianmahd, Chairman and CEO, commented, “Thanks to our diligent team, we exceeded our expectations during the pandemic and are experiencing strong profitability and record low losses.
“We are well-prepared to withstand the continuing global economic crises but hoping for a return to peace in Europe and beyond.”

About Maxim Commercial Capital 
Maxim Commercial Capital helps small and mid-sized business owners seize opportunity by providing financing in amounts from $10,000 to $3,000,000 secured by heavy equipment and real estate. Maxim facilitates equipment purchases, provides working capital, and refinances debt for companies across all industries located nationwide. As a leading provider of transportation equipment finance, Maxim funds up to 75% of the acquisition cost of class 8 and class 6 trucks, trailers and reefers for owner-operators and small businesses. Learn more at www.maximcc.com or by calling 877-776-2946.

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

ELFF Predicts Q2 Economic Outlook  4.2% Expansion
 in Equipment and Software Investment Growth
and 2.8% GDP Growth

Washington, DC – After its strongest growth in over a decade in 2021 and solid performance in Q1, equipment and software investment growth of 4.2 percent is forecast for 2022. Annual U.S. GDP growth for 2022 is forecast at 2.8 percent, according to the Q2 update to the 2022 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook released today by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. The Foundation’s report, which is focused on the nearly $1 trillion equipment leasing and finance industry, highlights key trends in equipment investment and places them in the context of the broader U.S. economic climate.

Nancy Pistorio, Foundation Chair and President of Madison Capital LLC, said, “At such a volatile time, this report provides valuable intelligence on the wide range of conditions that are impacting the U.S. economy and business investment. While it is encouraging that jobs are plentiful, the housing market is strong, and the pandemic is unlikely to be a major headwind unless a new variant emerges, the economic outlook is cloudier than it was at the start of the year. However, the equipment finance industry is still expected to expand at a moderate pace.”

Highlights from the Q2 update to the 2022 Outlook include:
•   After expanding a robust 13.1 percent in 2021, equipment and software investment is forecast to grow 4.2 percent (annualized) in 2022 as Russia’s war on Ukraine and ensuing uncertainty have muddled the outlook in several end-user markets.

•   Though an exceptionally strong labor market and robust housing growth has the U.S. economy on track for 2.8 percent growth this year, downside risks are mounting. Sanctions on Russia, economic turmoil, and supply chain shocks are all likely to contribute to sustained high inflation, and the risk of “stagflation” looms.

•   The U.S. manufacturing sector held steady in early 2022, but high energy prices and surging costs for other key inputs will likely weigh on activity later this year. Many of the supply chain issues last year appear set to return due to the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s response to COVID surges in major economic centers.

•   On Main Street, firms are generally holding their own as of early April, and an end to most pandemic operating restrictions has boosted demand. However, small businesses continue to contend with staff shortages and supply chain disruptions, which are both contributing to soaring inflation.

•   The Federal Reserve adopted a more hawkish posture in Q1 as inflation rose. After raising interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) in March, it is expected to raise rates another 100 bps by June, and 200 or more bps by the end of the year. Whether the Fed can reduce inflation without causing a sharp slowdown or recession is a huge unknown.

The Foundation-Keybridge U.S. Equipment & Software Investment Momentum Monitor, which is released in conjunction with the Economic Outlook, tracks 12 equipment and software investment verticals. In addition, the Momentum Monitor Sector Matrix provides a customized data visualization of current values of each of the 12 verticals based on recent momentum and historical strength. Seven verticals are peaking/slowing, four are accelerating, and one is weakening. Over the next three to six months, year over year:
•   Agriculture machinery investment growth is unlikely to improve.
•   Construction machinery investment growth may continue to decelerate.
•   Materials handling equipment investment growth is unlikely to improve.
•   All other industrial equipment investment growth is decelerating, but should stay in positive territory.
•   Medical equipment investment growth may accelerate.
•   Mining and oilfield machinery investment growth will remain in positive territory.
•   Aircraft investment growth will likely remain weak.
•   Ships and boats investment growth will continue to slow.
•   Railroad equipment investment growth should remain elevated.
•   Trucks investment growth is unlikely to improve.
•   Computers investment growth may accelerate.
•   Software investment growth will continue to decelerate, but will likely remain in positive territory.

The full report of the Momentum Monitor is now available at https://www.leasefoundation.org/industry-resources/momentum-monitor/.

The Foundation produces the Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook report in partnership with economic and public policy consulting firm Keybridge Research. The annual economic forecast provides the U.S. macroeconomic outlook, credit market conditions, and key economic indicators. The Q2 report is the first update to the 2022 Economic Outlook and will be followed by two more quarterly updates before the publication of the 2023 Economic Outlook in December.
Download the full report at https://www.leasefoundation.org/industry-resources/u-s-economic-outlook/. All Foundation studies are available for free download from the Foundation’s online library at http://store.leasefoundation.org/.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaseFoundation
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeaseFoundation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10989281/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/elffchannel

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that propels the equipment finance sector—and its people—forward through industry-specific knowledge, intelligence, and programs that contribute to industry innovation, individual careers, and the overall betterment of the equipment leasing and finance industry. The Foundation is funded through individual and corporate donations. Learn more at www.leasefoundation.org.

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Leasing News: Easter Edition
by Fernando Croce

Though Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving all boast a long list of holiday-themed movies, Easter-related movies are rarer but no less inspiring. With Easter Sunday right around the corner, check out Netflix for these classic holiday choices.

King of Kings (1961): “Ben-Hur” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told” may be better-known Hollywood Biblical epics, but this retelling of the New Testament may be the most passionate version. From the birth in Bethlehem to the Crucifixion, the film follows Jesus (played by the underrated Jeffrey Hunter) in a large-scale yet intimate portrait of his telling encounters with John the Baptist (Robert Ryan), Barabbas (Harry Guardino), and Judas (Rip Torn). Better known for “Johnny Guitar” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” Nicholas Ray might seem like an unusual choice to direct the movie, and yet his affinity for troubled outsiders works inventive and poignant wonders here, keeping a humane rather than grandiose eye on epic sequences like the Sermon on the Mount, where individual voices count as much as divine ones.

The Prince of Egypt (1998): DreamWorks Studio’s lavish telling of the Book of Exodus, this animated epic would make a worthy double-bill with Cecil B. DeMille’s live-action spectacle. Set in ancient Egypt, the story chronicles the developing conscience of Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer), who as a Hebrew baby was adopted by the Pharaoh (Patrick Stewart) and raised to be the prince. As a young man, Moses learns of his origins, as well as of his divine mission to guide the Israelites to freedom. He’s helped by his wife, Tzipporah (Michelle Pfeiffer), though his new purpose does not sit well with his ambitious adopted brother, Rameses (Ralph Fiennes). Using state-of-the-art animation to recreate awe-inspiring moments like the parting of the Red Sea, the movie is a handsome, satisfying Biblical illustration.

Cookie’s Fortune (1999): A pugnacious nonconformist, director Robert Altman (“Nashville”) mellowed with age, as evidenced in the blend of fondness and vinegar in this charming comedy-drama. Unfolding over Easter weekend in a sleepy Mississippi town, the film chronicles the family schemes that erupt in the wake of Jewel Mae (Patricia Neal), an elderly widow. Fearing scandal and the loss of inheritance, her niece Camille (Glenn Close) comes up with a plan to make the incident look like a murder—which leads to Jewel Mae’s friend and caretaker Willis (Charles S. Dutton) to being accused of the crime. With her plan depending on the help of her dim-witted sister younger Coral (Julianne Moore), how long can Camille keep up the pretense? Gentle but also biting, Altman’s portrait is a delight.

Donnie Darko (2001): For viewers who like their Easter bunnies on the edgier side, check out this unique cult favorite, which features a most malevolent rabbit. Set in a 1980s suburban neighborhood, it centers on the eponymous teenage misfit (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), a brooding high-schooler whose life changes one night when a mysterious creature comes to him in a dream to herald the end of the world. Said creature is Frank, a demonic-looking rabbit that assigns him tasks over the next few weeks. Can it be the product of a troubled imagination, or an actual doomsday messenger? Writer-director Richard Kelly impressively blends science-fiction, horror and coming-of-age sensitivity, fashioning a sort of dark poetry that lingers long after the mysteries are sorted out. The cast includes Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Miss Potter (2006): Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator of Easter favorite “Peter Rabbit,” is the subject of this whimsical, unpretentious biopic. Renée Zellweger is charming in the title role, who, in her meekly offbeat way, becomes something of a rebel in early 1900s England. Instead of following the restricting expectations society had for women, Beatrix preferred to funnel her passion in coming up with amusing stories about fanciful woodland critters. Though her eccentric stance finds no favor with her parents, she discovers kindred spirits in her sister, Millie (Emily Watson), and in her publisher, Norman (Ewan McGregor). Having used clever special effects in “Babe,” director Chris Noonan uses animation to bring the heroine’s creations to life. Slight but cozy, the movie benefits from its warm performances and gentle poignancy.

Labrador Retriever
Reisterstown, Maryland  Adopt-a-Dog

Bub-Bah

Male
1 Year, Six Months
Side: Medium
Color: Black/White
Neutered: Yes
Declawed: No
Housetrained: Unknown
Location: Foster Home

**I am currently in a foster home and not available to meet at the shelter**

I came from another shelter and my name was very different in its spelling and definitely a conversation starter for my friends here at BHS so they kept it! I am a sweet and gentle boy but I am very nervous. You can't really blame me though, I drove really far to get here and there are so many new faces and smells and it's overwhelming for a chill guy like me. It might take a little longer for me to warm up to everyone but have been told I am very polite when accepting treats. I really great on the leash and I like looking around and investigating my new surroundings. I am looking for a home who is willing to give me all the time I need to acclimate at, but I have a good feeling, we are going to be inseparable!

Adoption Process: If you would like to meet me, please complete an online application and email animalcenter@bmorehumane.org and we will discuss next steps to setting up a meet with the foster.

Dog Adoption Application
https://form.jotform.com/210185739532154

Baltimore Humane Society
1601 Nicodemus Rd
, MD 21136
410-833-8848
shelter@bmorehumane.org

Adoption Center
Monday: 12 - 4pm
Tuesday-Sunday: 12 - 5pm

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Today is Early Bird Cutoffs: Friday, March 15th
AACFB 2022 Annual Conference, May 11-13

Exhibitors

4 Hour Funding
360 Equipment Finance
AACFB Benefits
American Capital Group
American Lease Insurance
AMUR Equipment Finance
APPROVE
AvTech Capital LLC
Balboa Capital
Bankers Capital
BankFinancial Equipment Finance
Banleaco
Baystone Government Finance/KS StateBank
Blue Bridge Financial
C.H. Brown Co. LLC
Channel
CLFP Foundation
Commercial Funding Partners LLC
Corporate Freight Savers/Discounted Overnight Envelope Air Labels
CreditBench Powered By BayFirst
Dedicated Funding, LLC
East Harbor Financial
Entegra Capital LLC
Equipment Leasing Group of America, LLC
FileInvite
Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc.
First Business Bank
First Federal Leasing
First Foundation Bank
FirstLease
Fountainhead Commercial Capital
Gulf Coast Business Credit
instaCOVER
Lenders Access
MAKO Equipment Finance
Marlin Capital Solutions
Maynards Capital
McKenzie Credit
Meridian Equipment Finance
National Business Capital
National Debt Holdings
Navitas Credit Corp.
NCMIC/Professional Solutions
NewLane Finance
NFS Leasing
North Mill Equipment Finance LLC
North Star Leasing
Orange Commercial Credit
Pawnee Leasing Corporation
Providence Equipment Finance, a Division of Providence Bank & Trust
Quality Leasing Co., Inc.
ROK Financial
SCJ Commercial Financial Services
SLIM Capital LLC
The Monitor
TimePayment
TradeRiver USA
Universal Finance
VFI Corporate Finance
Y.E.S. Leasing

The AACFB conference is an outstanding value at any price  but why not get the best rate?

Register now to save more!

Program
https://members.aacfb.org/AACFBMembers/Events/Event_Display.aspx
        
HOTEL GROUP RATE CUT-OFF
The deadline to get the amazing group rate of $175 at the Sheraton/Le Meridien Charlotte is Tuesday, April 19 or until the block is full.
 
There is a VERY LIMITED number of rooms left in our block. If you have not reserved your room at the hotel, we encourage you to do so ASAP!

REGISTER NOW
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1635358254416&key=GRP&app=resvlink

WOMEN'S LUNCHEON CUT-OFF
The Women in Finance Luncheon will be held on May 11 from noon until 2PM at the Church and Union restaurant in uptown Charlotte. The luncheon will offer great food and great company to kick off the conference!

The cost is $40 per person. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 4.

GOLF TOURNAMENT CUT-OFF
If you are planning to participate in the 2022 AACFB Golf Tournament at the Skybrook Golf Club, you will need to register by Wednesday, April 27 to allow time for pairings to be completed.

The fee to play is $125 per person

COVID-19 Waiver:
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NAELB/7c81d97b-75ea-4e4a-9dfd-a4ddff329d1e/UploadedImages/2021%20Annual/COVID_19_WAIVER_ANNUAL_CONFERENCE.pdf

News Briefs---

Wells Fargo Quarterly Profit Falls 21%
    $3.67 billion in the first quarter, down from $4.64 billion
https://www.wsj.com/articles/wells-fargo-quarterly-profit-falls-21-11649934960

Mortgage rates hit 5% for the first time
in over a decade: That's the highest since 2010
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/14/homes/us-mortgage-rates-april-14/index.html

The 'Hell or High Water Clause'
     Is Tormenting Small-Business Owners
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-lifeline-for-entrepreneurs-has-become-a-financial-albatross-for-some-11649950064?st=od8yroxixpvsdt4&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

TurnkeyZRG Seeks CFO for the San Francisco 49ers
    the CFO will oversee all financial aspects of the operation
https://huntscanlon.com/turnkeyzrg-seeks-cfo-for-the-san-francisco-49ers/

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs---

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones voices interest
      in swinging NFL draft trade
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2022/04/13/dallas-cowboys-nfl-draft-trade-first-round-jerry-jones/7309885001/

Derek Carr, Raiders agree to three-year,
$121.5 million contract extension
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/raiders/2022/04/13/derek-carr-contract-extension-las-vegas-raiders/7303728001/

Seahawks re-sign veteran QB Geno Smith
https://www.theredzone.org/Blog-Description/EntryId/22309/Seahawks-re-sign-veteran-QB-Geno-Smith

Stephen Curry returns to Warriors practice
for 1st time since injury
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/stephen-curry-returns-to-warriors-practice-for-1st-time-since-injury/

Out of Posey’s shadow, Giants catcher Joey Bart
earns early-season praise
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/Out-of-Posey-s-shadow-Giants-catcher-Joey-Bart-17081959.php

[headlines]
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California Nuts Briefs---

Google will invest billions in California,
     San Francisco Bay Area gets big chunk
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/14/google-billion-2022-california-invest-bay-area-tech-home-real-estate/

Betty White’s Monterey County home seems
to have found a new owner
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/14/betty-whites-carmel-home-seems-to-have-found-a-new-owner/

San Francisco penthouse once home to Gump's Department
Store heir and president yours for $2.5M
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/SF-Gumps-penthouse-for-sale-17069724.php

[headlines]
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"Gimme that wine"

Jackson Family Wines of Sonoma County
      buys Washington vineyards
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/14/betty-whites-carmel-home-seems-to-have-found-a-new-owner/

Bold red blend back on top at 2022
North Coast Wine Challenge
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/specialsections/bold-red-blend-back-on-top-at-2022-north-coast-wine-challenge/

April is the Month to Uncork Wine in Sonoma County
Grab Your Glass
https://storystudio.sfgate.com/sonoma-county-ready-to-uncork-good-times-during-april-wine-month/

Soaring cost of glass bottles has some California
North Coast wineries seeking alternatives
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industrynews/soaring-cost-of-glass-bottles-has-some-california-north-coast-wineries-seek/

Win a VIP Winery Weekend
Hosted by Fair Play AVA
https://storystudio.sfgate.com

Another Variable in the Winemaking Process:
Climate Change by Eric Asimov, NY Times
www.nytimes.com/2022/04/07/dining/drinks/wine-climate-change.html

Napa and Sonoma Winemakers Market Luxury
Sauvignon Blanc. Is Anyone Buying?
https://www.winemag.com/2022/04/14/sauvignon-blanc-napa-sonoma/

Idaho wine industry feels impact as nation’s
fastest-growing state
https://greatnorthwestwine.com/2022/04/12/idaho-wine-industry-feels-impact-as-nations-fastest-growing-state/

“Gimme that Wine”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

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

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

This Day in History

     1715 - For years, the Yamasee Indians confederation and the Carolinian colonists conducted slave raids upon Spanish-allied Indians and attacked St. Augustine in Spanish Florida.  On this day, the Yamasee joined an intertribal war against the British, triggering the Yamasee War, which lasted until at least 1717.  British Governor Charles Craven defeated the Yamasee at Salkechuh (Saltketchers, Salkehatchie) on the Combahee River. The tribe was driven across the Savannah River back into Florida.  The Yamasee then migrated south to the area around St. Augustine and Pensacola, where they allied with the Spanish against the British. In 1727, the British attacked the tribe's settlement and slaughtered most of them. Some survivors joined the Seminoles and some joined the Hitchiti people and disappeared from the historical record.
    1738 – The bottle opener was invented.
    1741 - Birthday of Charles Wilson Peale (d. 1827) at Queen Anne County, MD.  American portrait painter best known for his many portraits of colonial and American Revolutionary War figures.  His children Raphael, Rembrandt, Titian and Sarah were also artists.  ttp://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/peale_charles_willson.html/
    1783 - Peace with Britain until 1812. Through seven long years of war, the longest war the United States ever fought until Vietnam, the army under Washington remained true to the cause. But the spirit of sacrifice even among army men wasn’t universal. Desertions became so common that some scheduled attacks had to be canceled for lack of men to fight them.  Gelb tells of a general in the South who discovered in the midst of a major assault that the seven thousand troops under his command had dwindled to only three thousand, resulting in a disastrous rout.  It’s estimated that up to a third of the soldiers in the Revolutionary Army deserted. Some left to return home to their families or to join their state militias, but probably most got tired of the war or were scared of dying.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/apr15.html
    1817 - The Erie Canal was authorized by the New York legislature. Jesse Hawley interested New York Governor DeWitt Clinton in the project. There was much opposition, and the project was ridiculed as "Clinton's folly" and "Clinton's ditch."  Clinton received approval from the legislature for $7 million for construction.  When completed and opened for traffic on October 26, 1825, this 360 mile wide canal connecting the waters of Lake Erie at Buffalo with the waters of the Hudson River at Albany, became a major transportation hub for the growth of the area.
    1817 - Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc founded the first US public school for the deaf, Connecticut Asylum for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons (now the American School for the Deaf), at Hartford, CT.
    1829 - Birthday of Dr. Mary Harris Thompson (d.1895), Ft. Ann, NY.   A physician, she founded Chicago Hospital for Women and Children and was the first female surgeon in the U.S. She studied a year with Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, the first woman doctors. When in training in a regular hospital, she received a great deal of the same kind of sexually harassing ridicule that the Blackwells had received while studying to be doctors.
     1843 - Birthday of Henry James (d. 1916), novelist and critic, born at New York, NY. Among his best-known works are “The Portrait of a Lady,” “Washington Square” and “The Ambassadors.” http://classiclit.about.com/msub-hjames.htm
     1850 - Birthday of John Longyear (d. 1922), Lansing, MI.  American capitalist, landowner, philanthropist, one-time mayor of Marquette, MI. Disapproving of a railway route through Marquette, he caused his home, a stone castle-like showplace, to be torn down in 1903 and moved, stone by stone and stick by stick, in more than 190 freight cars and re-erected at Brookline, MA. 
     1850 – The first city charter went into effect as San Francisco was incorporated as a city. During the year ended today, 60,244 men and only 1979 women arrived in San Francisco.
     1862 - Thomas Wentworth Higginson receives a letter from Emily Dickinson containing four poems, which launches her "career." Only a few are published in her lifetime.
     1865 - Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America, died at 7:22 a.m. Lincoln had been shot in the back of the head the previous evening while attending a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, escaped, only to be hunted down and shot to death. Lincoln was carried to a boarding house across the street from the theatre. He never regained consciousness. This was Booth’s second attempt, but a change in theater plans a month earlier thwarted it. When this became known, it was thought the April 14th assassination was planned by a group. In the afternoon of the 15th, Vice-President Andrew Johnson was sworn in as 17th president of the United States. He completed Lincoln’s term and changed the course of Reconstruction. Five days earlier, General Lee had surrendered at the Appomattox Court house, virtually ending the war. It would be eleven days later that General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered the Confederate Army of Tennessee to General Sherman near Durham Station, NC, and a few weeks later, on May 10th, Jefferson Davis was captured at Irwinville, GA, by a contingent of General James H. Wilson’s cavalry, led by Lt. Col. Benjamin Pritchard.
    1865 - Birthday of Emily James Smith Putnam (d. 1944), Canandaigua, NY.  First dean of Barnard College and the writer of a major historical study of women: “The Lady: Studies of Certain Significant Phases of Her History” (1910). As a dean, a trustee, and a teacher, she was one of the great women who developed Barnard into a major educational opportunity for women. She resigned as dean in 1899 to marry and then became a trustee of the college to continue her drive to equalize Barnard's academic relationship with Columbia University. She returned to teaching at Barnard in 1914, permanently retiring in 1930. She authored a number of important historical studies and biographies.     
    1873 - A famous Easter blizzard raged across Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Gale force winds blew the wet snow into massive drifts; however there were few deaths due to the sparse population and due to the gradual increase of the storm.
    1886 - A devastating tornado, 800 yards in width at times, cut a twenty mile path through Saint Cloud, MN killing 74 persons. The bottom of the Mississippi River was said to have been seen during the tornado's crossing. Eleven persons were killed at a wedding party near the town of Rice.
    1889 - Birthday of Thomas Hart Benton (d. 1975), at Neosho, MO. An artist whose work was indicative of the American style of painting known as Regionalism, his works of life in the Midwest and South were not always flattering to their subjects, but his style became known as a truly American style of painting.
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/benton_thomas_hart.html
    1894 - Birthday of jazz/blues singer legend Bessie Smith (d. 1937), Chattanooga, TN. She was known as the Empress of the Blues. Her voice and songs tore the heart out of her listeners as she demanded they weep, laugh, and then face life as it was dealt. Her first recording, "Downhearted Blues," sold two million copies. She was queen of all she surveyed during the 20s and early 30s but a disastrous marriage and unwise financial decisions left her impoverished. Her more than 150 records are greatness preserved and her one movie “St. Louis Blues,” that was banned for being too realistic, is part of the Museum of Modern Art movies section.
Her vocal greatness was recognized early by the great Ma Rainey who hired the 12-year-old to sing in her minstrel review. Like so many of her sister blues singers, the bottle became her refuge in a life that just didn't seem to hang together. Unlike Billie Holiday who went the same disastrous booze and drugs route, her voice continued strong. She died in 1937 after an automobile accident in Mississippi. A white hospital refused her admittance and she died on the operating table of the black hospital some miles away. http://www.blueflamecafe.com/index.html http://bluesnet.hub.org/readings/bessie.html 
    1896 - Birthday of May Edward Chinn (d. 1980), Great Barrington, MA.  Although considered one of the first Black women physicians in New York City, she was half Amerind. Her mother was a full-blood from the Chickahominy tribe. It was her mother whose respect for education drove her. Her research work led to the development of the Pap smear to detect cervical cancer. She was the first non-white woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital. For years she was only allowed to practice medicine at Harlem Hospital which necessitated her starting her own private practice. During her training, she rode ambulances as a paramedic, one of the first women to do so in the U.S. Chinn's father escaped slavery from a Virginia plantation at the age of 11. She continued in private practice until she was 81.
1898 - Birthday of Marian Driscoll (d. 1961), Peoria, IL.  During the golden era of radio, she was the Molly of one of its most popular shows, “Fibber McGee and Molly.” She portrayed the much suffering wife married to a dreaming impractical husband, her real-life husband, James Jordan. Well, it was funny on radio
    1898 - Birthday of trumpet player Theodore “Wingie” Carpenter (d. 1975), St. Louis, MO.  Carpenter lost his left arm as the result of an accident during his early teens, with the amputation performed by a noted surgeon who was an uncle of jazz musician Doc Cheatem.  Sometime later, he took up the trumpet and, by 1920, he was working in traveling carnival shows.  He was one of several one-armed trumpeters who worked in the music business.
    1912- The unsinkable luxury liner HMS Titanic on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, NY, struck an iceberg just before midnight Apr 14, and sank at 2:27 AM, Apr 15.  Titanic had 2,224 persons aboard. Of these, more than 1,500 were lost. About 700 people were rescued from the icy waters off Newfoundland by the liner Carpathia, which reached the scene about two hours after Titanic went down. It is reported a ship closer did not come to the rescue due to illegals aboard. Many movies and documentaries about the monumental disaster have been filmed over the years. However, none had the exacting data gleaned by scientists from the 1986 expedition aboard "Atlantis II". Dr. Robert Ballard headed a crew and a robot named Jason in a descent to the deck of the "Titanic" aboard "Alvin", a submersible craft. They returned with information and photos that challenged and verified stories from the past. After years of studying the facts, the 1997 Academy Award-winning film, "Titanic", recreated the ship to the tiniest detail including the design on the elegant china. Although the films love story is fictitious, the true tragedy of Titanic can now be seen by the world several decades later.
    1917 - Hans Conried (d. 1982) was born in Baltimore, MD.  An actor: “My Friend Irma,” “Bus Stop,” “Oh! God: Book 2,” “Tut & Tuttle,” “The Monster that Challenged the World.”  Host: “Fractured Flickers” TV Series and other great cartoons. He is best known as Uncle Tonoose in “The Danny Thomas Show.” He was a frequent guest on the Jack Paar “Tonight Show.” A great influence on the humor of This Day in History written by the editor of Leasing News. http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/person/details/0,7621,BIO-P+14584,00.html
    1918 – Babe Ruth pitched a four-hit, 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia A’s. Red Sox manager Ed Barrow started will start Ruth's conversion to slugger later that season by working him into 72 games in the outfield and 1B.
    1920 - Birthday of Hilda Simms (d. 1994), American stage and film actress, born Hilda Moses at Minneapolis, MN. She joined the American Negro Theater at Harlem, NY, in 1943 and was given the title role in “Anna Lucasta.” When the production moved to Broadway in 1944, it became the first all-black production to be performed on Broadway without a racial theme. Simms was the creative arts director of New York State's human rights division, through which she was instrumental in bringing discrimination against black actors to public attention during the 1960s.
     1920 - Two security guards are killed during a mid-afternoon armed robbery of a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Out of this rather unremarkable crime grew one of the most famous trials in American history and a landmark case in forensic crime detection.  Police caught Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, who were each carrying loaded weapons at the time of their arrest. Sacco had a .32 caliber handgun-the same type as was used to kill the security guards-and bullets from the same manufacturer as those recovered from the shooting. Vanzetti was identified as a participant in a previous robbery attempt of a different shoe company. Sacco and Vanzetti were anarchists, believing that social justice would come only through the destruction of governments.  Sacco and Vanzetti were found guilty and sentenced to die. However, the ballistics issue refused to go away as Sacco and Vanzetti waited on death row. In addition, a jailhouse confession by another criminal fueled the controversy. In 1927, Massachusetts Governor A. T. Fuller ordered another inquiry to advise him on the clemency request of the two anarchists. In the meantime, there had been many scientific advances in the field of forensics. The comparison microscope was now available for new ballistics tests and proved beyond a doubt that Sacco's gun was indeed the murder weapon. A defense expert was even reported to have remarked upon seeing the new results, "Well, what do you know about that?" Sacco and Vanzetti were executed in August 1927, but even the new evidence didn't completely quell the controversy. In October, 1961, and again in March, 1983, new investigations were conducted into the matter, but both revealed that Sacco's revolver was indeed the one that fired the bullet and killed the security guards.
    1922 - Birthday of Harold Washington (d. 1987), Illinois legislator and Mayor of Chicago (1983-87), at Chicago, IL.  Harold Washington was one of the first African Americans to head a major US city. He was instrumental in tearing down Chicago's famed Democratic machine, a holdover from the many decades of domination by the Richard J. Daley administration.
    1921 - Two mile high Silver Lake, CO, received 76 inches of snow in 24 hours, the heaviest 24 hour total of record for North America. The storm left a total of 87 inches in twenty-seven and a half hours.
    1923 - Insulin became available for general use. It was first discovered in 1922. Today, insulin is used daily in the treatment of diabetes. It is extracted from the pancreas of sheep, oxen and by other means, including systemization in the laboratory. Insulin, a natural and vital hormone for carbohydrate metabolism in the body, is manufactured by the pancreas. An overabundance of insulin causes insulin shock and leads to a variety of symptoms, including coma.
    1923 - Dr. Lee DeForest’s Phonofilm, the first sound-on-sound film motion picture, was demonstrated for a by-invitation-only audience at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City. The guests saw "The Gavotte", a man and woman dancing to old-time music and "The Serenade", four musicians who played on wind, percussion and string instruments.
    1927 - Serge Koussevitsky directed the Boston Symphony in the first performance of Frederick Converses symphony, "Flivver Ten Million", a salute to the Tin Lizzie automobile.
    1927 - New Orleans LA was drenched with 14.01 inches of rain, which established a 24 hour rainfall record for the state.
    1933 - Birthday of Elizabeth Montgomery (d. 1995) in LA.  Although she starred in a number of TV films, she will always be remembered for her portrayal of Samantha in the long running TV series “Bewitched” (1954-72) and outliving two husbands on the show. In 1977, she played in one TV’s first drama involving interracial relationships when, in “A Killing Affair,” she played a police detective having an affair with her married partner, played by OJ Simpson.
    1940 - Birthday of William Henry “Willie” Davis (d. 2010), Mineral Springs, AR.   Over a 20-year Major League career, mostly with the Dodgers, he was the center fielder who replaced Hall of famer Duke Snider.  His 39-game hitting streak is still the Dodgers’ best.
    1940 - Birthday of Ohil Lesh, born in Berkeley, California. Lesh is a bassist and a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the band's disbanding in 1995, Lesh continued on the tradition of Grateful Dead family music with side project Phil Lesh and Friends, which pays homage to the Dead's music by playing their originals, common covers, and the songs of the members of his band, which changed consistently. Phil and Friends are viewed by many fans as the premier post-Dead band.
    1942 - Birthday of Walt Hazzard (d. 2011), Wilmington, DE.  He was a college, Olympic and NBA basketball player and college basketball coach. He was best known for his association with the UCLA men’s team, having been a star player for that team when it won its first national championship in 1964 and having served as the team's head coach in the 1980s.
    1943 - Birthday of singer Mighty Sam McClain (d. 2015), Monroe, LA.
http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/person/details/0,7621,BIO-P
+14584,00.html
    1945 - Lionel Hampton big band, along with gust trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie, play Carnegie Hall, New York City.
    1945 - GONSALVES, HAROLD, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Born: 28 January 1926, Alameda, Calif. Accredited to: California. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Acting Scout Sergeant with the 4th Battalion, 15th Marines, 6th Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryukyu Chain, 15 April 1945. Undaunted by the powerfully organized opposition encountered on Motobu Peninsula during the fierce assault waged by his battalion against the Japanese stronghold at Mount Yaetake, Pfc. Gonsalves repeatedly braved the terrific enemy bombardment to aid his forward observation team in directing well-placed artillery fire. When his commanding officer determined to move into the front lines in order to register a more effective bombardment in the enemy's defensive position, he unhesitatingly advanced uphill with the officer and another Marine despite a slashing barrage of enemy mortar and rifle fire. As they reached the front and a Japanese grenade fell close within the group, instantly Pfc. Gonsalves dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and thereby protecting the others from serious and perhaps fatal wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pfc. Gonsalves readily yielded his own chances of survival that his fellow marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy and his cool decision, prompt action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the U.S. Naval Service.
    1947 - Jackie Robinson became the first black American to play in the Major Leagues in the 20th century when he made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves. Robinson went 0-for 3 but scored the deciding run as the Dodgers prevailed 5-3.
    1950 - Buck Rogers appears on TV. At first a radio show, "Buck Rogers" premiered on ABC. Buck was an average American who woke up from a cave behind Niagara Falls to find himself in the year 2430. There were a number of changes to the cast during the show's short duration. Three actors played Buck Rogers in the series: Earl Hammond, Kem Dibbs and Robert Pastene. Two actresses portrayed Wilma Deering: Eva Marie Saint and Lou Prentis. Two actors would also play Dr. Huer: Harry Southern and Sandfor Bickert.  The last show of this iteration aired Jan. 30, 1951.
    1952 - Franklin National Bank, Franklin Square, NY issued the first bank credit card. Purchases were charged to the bank, which made the payments and then billed the card holders. The service was extended to its branches. The first bank credit card to gain national acceptance was the BankAmericard (later called Visa), issued by the Bank of America, San Francisco, in 1959. There was no membership fee or service charge. Full-scale services were offered to cardholders and merchants. Mastercard, originally called Master Charge, was founded by a consortium of 77 western banks led by the Wells Fargo Bank.
    1953 - Top Hits
“I Believe” - Frankie Laine
“Doggie in the Window” - Patti Page
“Till I Waltz Again with You” - Teresa Brewer
“Your Cheatin Heart” - Hank Williams
    1955 - The first franchised McDonalds was opened at Des Plaines, IL. by Ray Kroc, who had gotten the idea from a hamburger joint at San Bernardino, CA, run by the McDonald brothers. On opening day, a hamburger was 15 cents. The Big Mac was introduced in 1968 for 49 cents; the Quarter Pounder in 1971 for 53 cents. They are serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries across more than 36,000 outlets    
    1956 - General Motors announced that the first, free piston automobile had been developed.
    1956 - Mitch Miller, music director of Columbia Records, engages in a spirited debate with Alan Freed over the "potentially negative effects of Rock 'n' Roll on teenagers" on Eric Sevareid's news program on CBS-TV. Two psychiatrists also joined the discussion.
    1958 - Major League baseball came to California as the San Francisco Giants, transplanted from New York, opened the season against the Los Angeles Dodgers, formerly of Brooklyn, at San Francisco’s Seals Stadium. The Giants shut out their rivals, 8-0.
    1961 - Top Hits
“Blue Moon” - The Marcels
“Apache” - Jorgen Ingmann
“Dedicated to the One I Love” - The Shirelles
“Don’t Worry” - Marty Robbins
    1964 - The first Ford Mustang rolled off the show room floor, two days before it is set to go on sale nationwide.
    1966 - Fifth-Annual San Francisco State College Folk Festival with Malvina Reynolds, Mark Spoelstra, Richard ("Been down so long it looks like up to me") & Mimi Fariña, The Blues Project, Doc Watson and others. Poster artist: Michael Ferguson, From The Art of Rock.
    1966 - The Rolling Stones release "Aftermath", their first LP to feature all original material.
    1967 - The first mass burning of draft cards occurred as 400,000 marched in New York City opposing the Vietnam War. It was the culmination of the April 10-15 Vietnam Week featuring draft card burnings, turn-ins and anti-draft recruiter demonstrations all over the country. In NYC, speakers included Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Benjamin Spock.  In San Francisco, 100,000 people marched from Second and Market to Kezar Stadium at Golden Gate Park. Vietnam veteran David Duncan gave the keynote speech.
    1967 - Nancy and Frank Sinatra had the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, "Something Stupid", To this day, they are the only father and daughter team to have a US chart topping single. ("Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole and Nat "King" Cole reached #14 in 1991, recorded posthumously with her father.)
    1967 - Birthday of Dara Torres, Beverly Hills, CA.  U.S. swimmer. Torres is the first and only swimmer to represent the United States in five Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2008), and, at age 41, was the oldest swimmer ever to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she competed in the 50-meter freestyle, 4×100-meter medley relay, and 4×100-meter freestyle relay, and won silver medals in all three events.    
    1967 - The Who's second album, "Happy Jack," was released in the US. The LP contained a ten-minute mini-opera, "A Quick One," which was also the album's title in Britain.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” - The 5th Dimension
“You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” - Blood, Sweat & Tears
“Galveston” - Glen Campbell
“Woman of the World (Leave My World Alone)” - Loretta Lynn
    1971 - George C. Scott refused the Oscar for his Best Actor performance in "Patton" at the 43rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He had previously told reporters that he did not want the honor, saying (after the votes had been cast and tallied), “It is degrading to have actors in competition with each other.” Scott called the Oscar ceremony a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons. Others who did accept the golden statuette as recognition for their works that evening include: Glenda Jackson, Best Actress ("Women in Love"); Helen Hayes, Best Supporting Actress ("Airport"); John Mills, Best Supporting Actor ("Ryan’s Daughter"); Fred Karlin (music), Robb Royer and James Griffin (lyrics), Best Music/Song, "For All We Know" from "Lovers and Other Strangers"; and Franklin J. Schaffner, Best Director ("Patton") ... "Patton" (Frank McCarthy, producer) also received the Best Picture honors. Other notable flicks from 1970 (some Oscar winners, some not): "Five Easy Pieces", "Love Story", "MASH", "Tora! Tora! Tora!", "Diary of a Mad Housewife". http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0149177.html
    1972 - Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" became an unlikely number one hit after it was featured in the Clint Eastwood film “Play Misty For Me.” It had been originally released as an album cut three years earlier. After Eastwood included it in his film, Atlantic Records rush released it as a single.
    1973 - The richest women’s golf tournament held (to that day) was won by Mickey Wright. She won the $25,000 first prize in the Colgate-Dinah Shore Golf Classic in Palm Springs, CA.
    1974 - Kidnapped heiress Patricia Hearst is filmed participating in a bank robbery, along with 8 other members of the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army), in Sacramento, California.
    1977 - Top Hits
“Dancing Queen” - Abba
“Don’t Give Up on Us” - David Soul
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” - Thelma Houston
“Lucille” - Kenny Rogers
    1980 - Country star Willie Nelson held two fundraising concerts in Atlanta, Georgia, for Jimmy Carter's US presidential campaign.
    1985 - Marvelous Marvin Hagler helped Thomas “The Hit Man” Hearns go nighty-night a littler earlier than expected with a third round knockout to retain the world middleweight boxing title. Some have called the fight the greatest three rounds in boxing history.
    1985 - Top Hits
“We are the World” - USA for Africa
“Crazy for You” - Madonna
“Nightshift” - Commodores
“Honor Bound” - Earl Thomas Conley
    1988 - A weather disturbance off the southern coast of California brought parts of southern California their first rain in six weeks. Rain-slickened roads resulted in numerous accidents in southern California, including a ten car pile-up at Riverside.
    1989 - Roy Orbison had his final Top 10 single on the US chart with "You Got It", four months after he passed away. The song was written by Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty and appeared on Orbison's "Mystery Girl" album that was released posthumously.
    1990 – “In Living Color” premiered on TV. Fox's sketch comedy series was modeled after "Saturday Night Live." The show was created by Keenen Ivory Wayans. Between skits, the Fly Girls would entertain the studio audience with hip dances (actress Rosie Perez choreographed the dances before breaking into movies). The show featured Wayans, his brothers Damon, Marlon and Shawn, his sister Kim, Tommy Davidson, David Alan Grier, T'Keyah "Crystal" Keymáh, Kelly Coffield, Kim Coles and Jim Carrey before he was Ace Ventura. Some of the most popular recurring characters were Homey, the embittered clown, the flammable Fire Marshall Bill and the effeminate movie critics of "Men on Film."
    1996 - The rest of Jerry Garcia's ashes are scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. A small portion had been scattered in the Ganges River in India 11 days ago.
    1997 - In ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the debut of Jackie Robinson in the Majors, Bud Selig, chairman of baseball’s Executive Committee, announced that Robinson’s uniform number 42 would be retired by all Major League teams. Players then wearing 42 were allowed to continue to do so, but no team would ever assign 42 again.  With the retirement of Mariano Rivera after the 2013 season, there are no longer any players wearing #42.
    1998 - The New York Yankees and the New York Mets each played a home game at Shea Stadium, with the Yankees defeating the Anaheim Angels, 3-2, in the afternoon, and the Mets beating the Chicago Cubs, 2-1, at night. This unique doubleheader was occasioned by a structural accident at Yankee Stadium.  A 500- pound steel beam fell from the upper deck on April 14, forcing New York City to close the park temporarily for inspection and repairs. The Yankees returned to their own home on April 25, beating the Detroit Tigers, 8-4.
    1999 - Astronomers from San Francisco State University, working at an observatory in Arizona, announced the discovery of the first multi-planet system ever found orbiting around a star other than our own. Three planets orbit the star Upsilon Andromedae, which can be seen with the naked eye. This suggests that the Milky Way probably teems with similar planetary systems.
    2013 – Muslim terrorists set off two explosions near the finish line at the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring 264 others.  Among the injured, 17 were reported in critical condition.  At least 14 people required amputations.  The race was halted 8 minutes after the explosions; runners were diverted into Boston Common or Kenmore Square and over 5,000 participants who were unable to finish due to the race being halted.
    2015 - Nokia announced that it will purchase Alcatel-Lucent for $16.6 billion, creating the second-largest manufacturer of mobile communication products behind Ericsson.
    
Stanley Cup Champions:
    1937 - Detroit Red Wings
    1952 - Detroit Red Wings