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Positions Wanted
Accounts Receivable/Collections

Well- known to Leasing News, we recommend Ray Borgaard for account receivable and collections. He has over 30 years successful experience.

He has had great experience working with marketing, contact administrators, and credit to resolve any contractual issues that are preventing payment. He is looking to stay active, use his experience
to perform. Telephone: 847-865-3298 References furnished upon request: roborgaard@aol.com

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Bob Hartshorn was hired as Eastern Sales Manager, Advantage, Boston, Massachusetts.  He is located in Millbury, Massachusetts. Previously, he was Regional Manager, People's United Equipment Finance Corp. (FKA) Financial Credit, Inc. (January, 2021 - February, 2022). Senior Account Manager, Amur Equipment Finance (April, 2017 - August, 2020);  Regional Sales Manager at Advantage Funding (June, 2015 - February, 2017); Regional Sales Manager, Hitachi Capital America Corp. (June, 2014 – June, 2015); Business Development Manager, Engs Commercial Finance (January, 2014 – June, 2014); Financial Consultant, Santander Investment Services (January, 2013 – January, 2014); Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (June, 2011 – January, 2013); Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch (August, 2008 – June, 2011); District Sales Manager, Citi Group (September, 2007 – August, 2008); District Finance Manager, Daimler Truck Financial (1999 – 2007); Credit Supervisor, Ford Motor Credit Company (August, 1995 – January, 1999). Education: Bentley College, Elkin B. McCallum Graduate School of Business, MBA, Finance (1993 – 2004). Framingham State College, BA, Business Finance (1989 – 1992). Activities and Societies: Student Body Senator. President of Business Club. Algonquin RHS (1984 – 1988). Volunteer: President, Millbury Sutton Youth Football and Cheer (July, 2007 – Present).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-hartshorn-1273184/

Debra Hoffer was hired as Equipment Finance Officer, Key Equipment Finance, Denver, Colorado.  She is located at the Atlanta, Georgia office and works from Alpharetta, Georgia. Previously, she was Senior Vice President, Delta Financial Group (August, 2021 - January, 2022); Vice President, U.S. Bank Equipment Finance Technology Finance Group (September, 2020 - June, 2021); Vice President Sales, US Bank (2010 - 2012); Account Executive, Presidio Networked Solutions (2006 2010); Leasing Manager, Key Equipment Finance (2004 - 2006); VP, Bell Atlantic Tri Con (1989 - 2001).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-hoffer-22776125/.

Carol Larkin was hired as Managing Director and Head of Investment Documentation at Claus Capital, Boston, Massachusetts. "(She) will lead the firm’s investment documentation activities with responsibility for collaborating with the Investment Management team and clients to successfully close transactions. Larkin will be located in the firm’s Boston, MA, office…Larkin brings more than 25 years of experience negotiating, documenting and closing complex equipment financings for middle market and large corporate organizations, and maintains strong relationships with clients that she has previously interfaced with across the United States. Prior to joining Clarus Capital, Larkin was a Senior Vice President at Radius Equipment Finance, and before that, a Vice President and Manager Leasing Operations at NewStar Equipment Finance. Larkin has also held senior roles at American Finance Group and Santander Bank.”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-larkin-40038940/

Ryan LeRoy was hired as Vice President, Senior Lead National Program Manager, Bank of the West, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He is located in Irving, Texas. He is responsible for originating new business volume in the southeast region through relationships with dealers, manufacturer and end users in the construction and material handling industry.  Previously he was Regional Manager, Summit Funding Group (June, 2021 - February, 2022). Previously, he was at Wells Fargo, starting March, 2016, as Associate Inside Sales Associate; promoted, February, 2017, Relationship Manager; Associate Inside Sales Representative, GE Capital (June, 2013 - March, 2016); Customer Resolution Specialist, Allstate (March, 2012 - June, 2013). Education: University of Texas at Tyler, Bachelors of Science, Criminal Justice (2009 - 2011). Tyler Junior College, Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice (2007 - 2009). https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-leroy-85094247/

Aaron Nemchin was hired as Senior Account Manager, Tandem Equipment Finance Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Previously, he was Equipment Finance Specialist, National Leasing, starting April, 2002. Education: Algonquin College, Business Marketing (2000 - 2002). https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-nemchin-19570519/

David A. Strong was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Momentum Financial Services Group, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He joined the firm November, 2020 as Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer. He joined Wells Fargo March, 2016 as Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, promoted October, 2018, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. He started  at GE 1999 as Senior Consultant, promoted 2001 to IT Project Leader, promoted 2003, Vice President, Global Program Manager, promoted 2005, Vice President, Global IT Controller, promoted 2020, Senior Vice President Chief Information Officer. He began his career as Computer System Analyst, Eventra (1998 - 1999), Certification: Six Sigma, Green Belt Certification, GE, Issued January, 2004, Expired December, 2004).  Volunteer: Wells Fargo Canada, Fund Raising and Volunteering, Accueil Bonnneau (January, 2011 - November, 2020. GE Capital Canada, Pedal for Kids, Fund Raising and Participant. Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation (January, 2011 - Present).  GE Capital Canada, Light the Night Walk, Co-Leader, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (January, 2012 - January, 2014). GE Energy IT, build Coordinator, NW Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity (January, 2007 - December, 2010). GE Canada, Campaign Co-Chair, United Way Centraide Canada (January, 2011 - December, 2015). Education: GE Crotonville, Executive Leadership Training, Management (2001 - 2016). University of Connecticut, MBA, Master of Business Administration (2002 - 2004). Information Technology Institute, Graduate Studies, Applied Information Technology (1996 - 1998). Saint Mary's University, Degree, Bachelor of Science (BSc) (1998).
Nova Scotia Community College, Institute of Technology Campus, Diploma, Electronics (1990).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidastrong/

Vashia Underwood was hired as Business Underwriting Specialist for the Credit Team, CAN Capital, Kennesaw, Georgia. She is located in New York, New York. "(She) 10+ Years of #experience in the #financialservices and #fintech industries will make her an amazing addition to the CAN Family. Previously, she was Co-Owner La'Onze O'Cinq Beauty (January, 2018); Estetician, The Skin Academy (January, 2014). https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/

Help Wanted Ads

 

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Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation Reports
   February Confidence Falls only 2.1 from January

Survey Results

• When asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 24.1% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve over the next four months, a decrease from 25.9% in January. 69% believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, down from 70.4% the previous month. 6.9% believe business conditions will worsen, an increase from 3.7% in January.

• 24.1% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase over the next four months, down from 25.9% in January. 72.4% believe demand will “remain the same” during the same four-month time period, an increase from 70.4% the previous month. 3.5% believe demand will decline, unchanged from January.

• 17.2% of the respondents expect more access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions over the next four months, down from 21.4% in January. 82.8% of executives indicate they expect the “same” access to capital to fund business, an increase from 78.6% last month. None expect “less” access to capital, unchanged from the previous month.

• When asked, 44.8% of the executives report they expect to hire more employees over the next four months, up from 39.3% in January. 55.2% expect no change in headcount over the next four months, a decrease from 60.7% last month. None expect to hire fewer employees, unchanged from January.

• 10.3% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “excellent,” a decrease from 14.8% the previous month. 86.2% of the leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as “fair,” up from 81.5% in January. 3.5% evaluate it as “poor,” unchanged from last month.

• 24.1% of the survey respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will get “better” over the next six months, a decrease from 29.6% in January. 58.6% indicate they believe the U.S. economy will “stay the same” over the next six months, a decrease from 63% last month. 17.2% believe economic conditions in the U.S. will worsen over the next six months, an increase from 7.4% the previous month.

• In February 44.8% of respondents indicate they believe their company will increase spending on business development activities during the next six months, down from 50% the previous month. 51.7% believe there will be “no change” in business development spending, up from 50% in January. 3.5% believe there will be a decrease in spending, up from none last month.

Leasing News Advisor
Allan Levine

Allan Levine, PARTNER
MADI$ON CAPITAL
11433Cronridge Drive
Owings Mills, MD 21117
alevine@madisoncapital.com
Direct Line: 443.796.7337
Office: 443.796.7333
fax: 443.796.7200
Equipment and Vehicle Leasing/Financing Solutions
www.madisoncapital.com

Mr. Levine joined the advisory board June 6, 2007

Allan Levine is the immediate Past President and Chief Operating Officer of Madison Capital, LLC. Allan will continue his partner responsibilities by supporting credit, being on the management team and Board of Directors, and doing what he loves which is continue to provide financing solutions for his thousands of past, current, and future clients.

In 1971, he began working with a firm focused on vehicle and small-ticket equipment leasing. In 1974, Allan started Fox Auto & Truck Discount Leasing Company, which evolved, in the early 1980’s, into Fox Discount Leasing, Inc. In 1987, the name changed to form Fox Valley Leasing, which merged with Harbor Leasing to become Madison Capital in August of 1997.

Mr. Levine served on the board and was editor of the Eastern Association of Equipment Leasing's quarterly publication. The association merged with the United Association of Equipment Leasing, formerly the Western Association of Equipment Leasing, now under the new name National Equipment Finance Association.

After college, Mr. Levine did marketing work for Polaroid (“If anyone remembers them. They thought digital photography would not make it, Levine told Leasing News.”) He learned much of his sales and marketing skills at Polaroid. He is known as a very good writer and humorist. 

He has served on many boards and committees throughout the leasing industry, and has been active in community organizations. His involvement has included the local chapter of the NVLA (National Vehicle Leasing Association). He also has served on The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Committee for Independent Leasing Companies (ILC) and its Futures Council group. He was Vice President of The Jewish Community Center and on its board of directors for years, and is past Chair of The Gordon Center (a 550-seat boutique venue for the performing arts). He has also served as a big brother in that local organization.

Mr. Levine was on the advisory board of Maryland Financial Bank. He is also on the board and finance committee of Woodholme Country club (his local golf stop). He is a past Chairman of the Board of The Chimes, an international not-for-profit serving over 20000 individuals with development disabilities and employs more than 2300 employees. He has also served, at the board and committee levels of additional local philanthropic and community organizations. He is a past trustee of The Maryland Zoo which is the fourth largest in the US. Allan has most recently served on the board of directors of Jewish Communal Services, the driving force for many Social Services in Maryland.

Mr. Levine is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he played lacrosse. He is married and has 7 grandchildren. He told Leasing News he plays golf and works out regularly in order to keep the energy level needed to support the rigors of the lease and financing industry

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Edmunds: 8 out of 10 consumers paid above MSRP
for new models in January

Edmunds said Cadillac topped the list of brands that commanded above-sticker price, with an average markup of $4,048 in January. Photo courtesy of Cadillac.

If an individual with a less than prime credit background still somehow secured financing for a new vehicle in January, there’s a notable possibility that the installment contract will be underwater for some time, based on record-breaking data from Edmunds.

Edmunds said more consumers than ever are paying above sticker price for a new car amid inventory shortages and elevated consumer demand.

In fact, Edmunds reported that buyers paid above MSRP in a record 82.2% of all new-vehicle purchases last month, compared to 2.8% in January 2021 and 0.3% in January 2020.

Edmunds data also showed that the average transaction price for a new vehicle climbed to $728 above MSRP in January, compared to $2,152 below MSRP last January and $2,648 below MSRP in January 2020.

Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds Executive Director of Insights, said, “The fact that an overwhelming majority of consumers are paying above sticker price would have been unthinkable even just a year ago.

“This is in part driven by affluent consumers being willing to shell out more cash to get the vehicles that they want, but there’s also a vast population of individuals who are being forced to do so simply because they need transportation and have no other choice,” Caldwell continued.

Edmunds analysts took a look at the difference in new vehicle average transaction prices and compared them to the average MSRP across automakers to identify the brands commanding the largest amounts above sticker price and the brands yielding the greatest discounts.

Analysts discovered Cadillac topped the list of brands that commanded above-sticker price, with an average markup of $4,048 in January, followed by Land Rover, with an average markup of $2,565, and Kia, with an average markup of $2,289.

Edmunds noted that Alfa Romeo topped the list of brands that brought below-sticker price, with an average discount of $3,421 in January, followed by Volvo with an average discount of $869 and Lincoln with an average discount of $510.

“All eyes have been on Ford and GM since they both publicly called for their dealers to stop charging over MSRP for vehicles,” Caldwell said. “Of all automakers, they might be in the most precarious position since they have very high-profile launches in the near future that appeal to a new type of customer. But looking at the numbers, there are clearly some other automakers who might want to follow suit.”

Ivan Drury, Edmunds Senior Manager of Insights, projected, “Consumers might be waiting up to a year or longer if they want to hold off until the market resembles anything close to the pre-pandemic normal, but some buyers simply cannot wait,” said in the news release.

“If you know you need a new vehicle soon — or if you have a vehicle coming off lease and its term can’t be extended — doing extra research is critical to get an advantage, and using the list set forth below is a decent starting point if you’re looking out for price discrepancies among different brands,” Drury went on to say.

Source: Sub Prime Auto Finance News

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Paccar reveals 18-speed automated manual
transmissions for Peterbilt, Kenworth

Features include 'urge to move' and integrated clutch housing to improve durability

MARSHALL, Mich. — Paccar Inc.’s new 18-speed automated manual transmissions prove their worth long before approaching a 15-degree hill on Eaton Corp.’s snow-covered proving ground in mid-Michigan.

The TX-18 debuting this July in Peterbilt and Kenworth heavy-haul trucks for on- and off-highway uses doesn’t drive like the family SUV, but maneuverability hauling 140,000 pounds is not that far off a family hauler when it comes to steering feel, braking and a lot of smart assist features Paccar designed to replace Eaton’s 18-speed UltraShift PLUS VXP.

From a hardware standpoint, the TX-18 is a variant of the automated manual transmission joint venture of Eaton and Cummins Inc. called Endurant. But the software, calibrations and integration are all Paccar (NASDAQ: PCAR), so much so that the TX-18 mates only with Paccar’s MX11 and MX13 engines.

The extension to 18 speeds complements Paccar’s TX-12 AMT sibling rated at 110,000 pounds of combined truck and trailer weight. It is now consigned to lighter, less challenging on-highway linehaul. The Paccar TX-8 automatic transmission rated up to 57,000 pounds

The difference between an automatic transmission and an automated manual is the presence of a clutch. But rather than the driver having to guess the proper gear, the AMT does the hunting by controls inside the transmission, barely perceptible step shifting of two or three gears at a time depending on what’s needed.

Kyle Crawford, Peterbilt Vocational Marketing Manager, said, “It’s always going to feel a little bit different than an automatic transmission, but some of the main benefits are that it’s going to be lighter than an automatic transmission and it’s going to have better fuel economy,”

The two versions of the TX-18 each put out 510 horsepower and 1,850 pound-feet of torque. The TX-18 is intended for mild vocational use and high performance on the highway. The TX-18 Pro adds six reverse gears, an extreme-duty clutch and performance in severe vocational performance. Think lumber hauling, wreckers, road graders and heavy dump trucks.

Backing up at speed

“The TX-18 Pro really helps in applications where they’re reversing a lot for a long way,” Crawford said. He gave the example of a driver delivering dirt for construction of a single-lane service road where there is no turnaround for the dump truck after delivering its load. Typically the top backing speed is 5 mph. With six reverse gears, the speed can increase to 10 mph.

“So, you’re basically saving 12 minutes reversing back to your pickup point,” Crawford said. “Just imagine how many more loads and how much more productivity and up time you’re going to have.”

And then there is climbing, as in the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, about 60 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70, elevation 11,158 feet.

“Just imagine you’re [driving] a manual transmission. You’re in traffic going up a hill, trying to shift back. You’re going to be worn out at the end of the day,” Crawford said.

This is where the TX-18’s forward-creep, or urge to move, feature comes in. Rather than worrying about the motorist who pulled in a foot behind a driver laden with a 140,000-pound load trying to avoid downshifting to hold his place in traffic, the TX-18 predicts what gear to select based on the incline and estimated load on the truck.

Clutch durability

One of the fastest-wearing parts of a manual or heavy-duty AMT is the clutch. Paccar designed an integrated clutch housing, replacing 26 bolts used to hold the clutch in place. Each of those, Crawford said, has a potential for leaks or other problems that could require maintenance.

Dual power takeoff units for functions like hydraulic dump trucks put out a combined 160 horsepower, 100 horsepower more than the UltraShift. The PTOs are mounted beneath and behind the transmission.

“Everybody has different needs and different setups,” Crawford said.

On-highway maintenance intervals are 500,000 miles or five years, and vocational intervals are 250,000 miles or three years for the TX-18 and TX-18 Pro.

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Check the status of a refund in just a few clicks
using the Where’s My Refund tool

Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It's available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App.

Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.

Refund timing
Where's My Refund provides a personalized date after the return is processed and a refund is approved. While most tax refunds are issued within 21 days, some may take longer if the return requires additional review.

Here are a few reasons a tax refund may take longer:

• The return may include errors or be incomplete.
• The return could be affected by identity theft or fraud.
• Many banks do not process payments on weekends or holidays.

The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if more information is needed to process their tax return.
Taxpayers who claimed the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit, can expect to get their refund March 1 if:

• They file their return online
• They choose to get their refund by direct deposit
• The IRS found no issues with their return

Fast and easy refund updates
Taxpayers can start checking on the status of their return within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an electronically filed return or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return. The tool's tracker displays progress in three phases:

• Return received
• Refund approved
• Refund sent

To use Where's My Refund?, taxpayers must enter their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, their filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of their refund. The IRS updates the tool once a day, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more often.

Calling the IRS won't speed up a tax refund. The information available on Where's My Refund? is the same information available to IRS phone assistors.
https://go.usa.gov/xtF4H 

Countries with the Most Olympic Medals
Being Stripped as a Result of Doping

According to data from World Atlas, the Russian Federation holds the record for having to forfeit the most Olympic medals in history. The Russian Olympic Committee has long been suspected of systematically supplying their athletes with performance-enhancing drugs. Numerous investigations and reports resulted in a four-year ban on the participation of the country's athletes in global sporting events put into effect by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2019. One year later, the length of the ban was reduced to two years by the CAS, which enabled Russia to officially take part in this year's Winter Olympic Games.

Sharing second place are Ukraine and Belarus with 11 medals stripped, while Kazakhstan ranks third with nine medals. Overall, Eastern European and former Eastern Bloc nations make up the majority of the top 8 countries having to forfeit their Olympic medals. While these numbers, especially for Russia, seem high, positive doping tests at the Olympic games have actually gone down in the last couple of years. After a record of 91 and 132 positive tests in the Summer Games of 2008 and 2012, respectively, the 2020 Summer Olympics saw only nine athletes testing positive for potential performance-enhancing drugs according to data from ProCon.

By Florian Zandt, Statista

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

Peoples Bank to Acquire Vantage Financial, LLC
Expected to Occur in March 2022

MARIETTA, Ohio, -- Peoples Bancorp Inc. ("Peoples") (NASDAQ: PEBO) announced  that its wholly owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vantage Financial, LLC ("Vantage"), a nationwide provider of equipment financing headquartered in Excelsior, Minnesota.

 Under the terms of the agreement, Peoples Bank will purchase 100% of the equity of Vantage for total cash consideration of $54 million. Peoples Bank will also repay approximately $21 million in recourse debt on behalf of Vantage. Vantage offers mid-ticket equipment leases primarily for business essential information technology equipment across a wide-array of industries and had lease assets of approximately $147 million as of December 31, 2021.

Upon completion of the transaction, Vantage will become a subsidiary of Peoples Bank. The substantial majority of Vantage's current leadership and associates are expected to continue in their positions, led by Vantage co-founder and CEO, William Foudray.  Vantage co-founder and Chairman, Bob Murphy, plans to retire in March 2022 and will not be remaining with the company.  As a subsidiary, Vantage will continue to operate under the name Vantage Financial, which will leverage Vantage's strong brand recognition within the equipment finance industry.  The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in March 2022.

Chuck Sulerzyski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Peoples, said, "We are excited to welcome Bill and his highly talented team to Peoples and look forward to Vantage continuing its impressive track record of originating high quality assets.

"The addition of Vantage to the Peoples suite of product offerings will allow us to build upon our recent success with our North Star Leasing acquisition, while also becoming a top 100 U.S. leasing business based on combined assets."

Vantage Co-Founder and CEO, William Foudray, said, "My team and I are thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Chuck and the Peoples team.  We believe that the combination of our intense focus on achieving above average risk-adjusted returns along with Peoples' balance sheet will enable Vantage to accelerate on its track record of profitable growth.

"We look forward to closing the transaction and becoming part of the Peoples team. The increased capabilities and resources for Vantage will benefit our clients, business partners, and employees. Last, we want to thank Bob Murphy for his leadership and many contributions over the years since the two of us founded Vantage in 2011. We wish him all the best in his retirement." 

Vantage's lease originations have grown by an average of 25% annually from 2016 to 2021.  Vantage's portfolio generated an approximate yield of 6% in 2021, and the net investment of approximately $147 million at December 31, 2021, was comprised of over 1,000 leases with an average amount financed at origination of approximately $260,000.

Peoples was advised by Hovde Group, LLC and the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP.  Vantage and its equity owners were advised by Cherry Tree & Associates, LLC and the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP.

About Peoples Bancorp Inc.:

Peoples is a diversified financial services holding company and makes available a complete line of banking, trust and investment, insurance and premium financing solutions through its subsidiaries.  Peoples Bank has been headquartered in Marietta, Ohio since 1902.  Peoples has established a heritage of financial stability, growth and community impact.  Peoples had $7.1 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2021, and 135 locations, including 119 full-service bank branches in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland.  Peoples is a member of the Russell 3000 index of U.S. publicly-traded companies. Learn more about Peoples at www.peoplesbancorp.com.

About Vantage Financial, LLC:

Vantage is a national lessor of equipment to middle market companies in a variety of industries throughout the United States. Vantage provides its clients with value-added technology leasing solutions based on long-term client and partner relationships built on exceptional service, creativity, and integrity.  More specifically, Vantage provide its clients with flexible solutions for the utilization of technology equipment. Headquartered in Excelsior, MN, Vantage has regional offices located around the country to better serve their customers including Guilford CT, Holmdel, NJ, Santa Barbara, CA, Austin and Houston, TX, and Milwaukee, WI. Vantage Financial has been in business since 2011. Learn more about Vantage at www.vantagefncl.com.

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

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Watch at Home:
by Fernando Croce

With President’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to settle down with movies about U.S. leaders, real-life as well as fictional. Check out our red-white-and-blue recommendations and settle in for a relaxing weekend.

Young Mr. Lincoln (John Ford, 1939): Arguably the greatest American filmmaker, John Ford delivered no less than three masterpieces in 1939—the Western bedrock “Stagecoach,” the gorgeous historical drama “Drums Along the Mohawk,” and this truly lovely portrait of a great president. Beautifully played by Henry Fonda, Abraham Lincoln is depicted in his early years as a callow law practitioner, moving from Kentucky to Illinois to face his most decisive case. Facing a dramatic trial which puts the innocent lives on the balance, Lincoln comes to discover the sage qualities that will mark his future as the nation’s leader. Rather than a pious biopic, Ford and Fonda fashion a leisurely incarnation full of sly humor and profoundly humanistic empathy. The result is a wise, funny and moving classic from Hollywood’s golden age.

Dave (Ivan Reitman, 1993): “The Prince and the Pauper” goes to Washington in this warm and appealingly earnest satire, from “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman. Kevin Kline is terrific in a dual role as Dave Kovic, a small-time business owner, and the U.S. President himself. Dave is hired as a double for a photo op, but when the President suffers a heart attack, the masquerade has tocontinue for longer than expected. At first, he’s merely a pawn in a scheme by the opportunistic chief of staff (Frank Langella). However, the plan becomes complicated as Dave learns about how he can change things—and starts to fall in love with the First Lady (Sigourney Weaver). Full of charm and hope, the film genially updates Thirties comedies like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”

The American President (Rob Reiner, 1995): Leave it to the director of “When Harry Met Sally” to turn the nation’s political scene into a feel-good romantic comedy! That’s just the case in this glossy Rob Reiner charmer, in which the eponymous leader of the free world (played by Michael Douglas) has to find a way to balance his many obligations to the American public with his romantic yearning. Now a widower, he suddenly falls in love with environmental lobbyist Sydney (Annette Bening) and must deal with not only his political foes, but also this unlikely couple’s tangled feelings. Despite often biting dialogue from future Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network”), Reiner’s movie is an uncommonly tender and optimistic view into the lives of those in the bloodsport of politics.

Air Force One (Wolfgang Petersen, 1997): What country wouldn’t feel safe with Indiana Jones himself calling the shots? Combining strength of character with a penchant for brave action, Harrison Ford is perfectly cast as America’s dream President in this crowd-pleasing action hit from thriller specialist Wolfgang Petersen (“Outbreak”). An ex-marine and gruff family man, Ford’s President Marshall finds himself stranded with the enemy thousands of feet up in the air when foreign rebels led by the merciless Ivan (Gary Oldman) take control of the eponymous presidential airplane. Will his declared principles stand the test of action? Boasting tightly directed suspense and a rock-solid supporting cast that includes Glenn Close, William H. Macy and Dean Stockwell, it’s smarter-than-your-average-blockbuster fare graced by Ford’s almost Gary Cooper-like sense of integrity.

Dick (Andrew Fleming, 1999): Watergate gets a screwball makeover in this irresistible comedy, which plays like a satirical re-imagining of “All the President’s Men.” Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams are marvelously effervescent as Betsy and Arlene, ditzy teenagers who unwittingly become witnesses to the greatest political scandal in the country. In 1976, President Richard Nixon (Dan Hedaya) tries to keep the girls quiet by appointing them as the White House’s official dog walkers. Instead, the two stumble into even more secrets—and come to the aid of a certain pair of Washington Post investigative journalists, Bob Woodward (Will Ferrell) and Carl Bernstein (Bruce McCullough). Gleefully inventive, the film is a mischievous gemfrom director Andrew Fleming (“The Craft”), delighting in the clash between the heroine’s flightiness and Nixon’s gruffness.

Boxer/Labrador Retriever
Seattle, Washington Adopt-a-Dog

Hannay Syd

Female
5 Months Old
Spayed
15 lbs.
Up-to-date with vaccinations
Good with dogs
Good with kids
Good with adults: All

My name is Hannah Syd from Mexico and I am a wonderful approx. 5 month old female Boxer - Labrador Retriever mix.  I am approx. 15 lbs., a sweet, loving, fun and playful dog.  I am a very happy dog and so excited to find my forever home soon.  Mexico is so overloaded with dogs roaming all over the streets with no food, love or care.  I am so lucky to get a one-way ticket to come to Seattle to find a new forever home!  Take me on car rides, walks in the park and I will become your very best friend.  I get along well with people of all ages, gentle kids, other dogs but have not been around cats before.  I will do best in a home with a loving family that can give me lots of exercise, love and affection!

 Our pet rescue dog trainer would be happy to come to your home and help train with your new dog for only $75 and this is highly recommended.

My adoption fee of $1195.00 covers Spay/Neuter, DA2PP shots, Rabies, Bordatella, Deworm, Heart Worm Test, Grooming, Microchip, Boarding Fees, Health Certificate, and transport cost from MEXICO to SEATTLE. 

The adoption fee is firm and helps cover the medical expenses of our other rescue dogs in need.  We cannot guarantee age or breed.  Donations are always appreciated to help us pay down our vet bills at Greenwood Vet. 

Ginger's Pet Rescue is a non-profit 501 C 3.  If you are interested,  please e-mail   sian@gingerspetrescue.org   for an adoption application.  

Ginger's Pet Rescue
PO Box 28518
Seattle, WA 98118
sian@gingerspetrescue.org
206-698-8800

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Terrain Vineyards 2017 Red Blend - Napa, California
By Kevan R. Wilkinson, Leasing News Wine Reviewer

I've mentioned this many times in my Leasing News wine reviews: I like delicious, value-priced wines. That's the Terrain Vineyards 2017 Red Blend in a nutshell, or shall I say "in a wine glass."

This $5 gem is a light red blend with just 12.5% alcohol content, so it is not big or overpowering. I prefer medium-bodied red blends, but the Terrain Vineyards 2017 Red Blend is a nice change. The grapes used are not indicated on the bottle, but I tasted light cherries, boysenberries, and a slight hint of vanilla.

My wife and I enjoyed this wine with pan-roasted chicken, cauliflower, and a cucumber salad.

The Terrain Vineyards 2017 Red Blend is available for $5 at specialty wine stores and Trader Joe's.

Kevan R. Wilkinson | Digital Content Manager | BALBOA CAPITAL |  kevanrw@balboacapital.com | www.balboacapital.com

Wine Reviews
https://leasingnews.org/Pages/wine_reviews.html

News Briefs---

Mortgage rates jump to nearly 4%
    up from 3.69% the week before 
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/homes/us-mortgage-rates-feb-17/index.html

Ford Mustang Mach-E usurps Tesla Model 3
    as Consumer Reports top EV pick of the year
https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/17/22939085/ford-mustang-mach-e-tesla-model-3-consumer-reports

Walmart steers through inflation,
    boosting profit and sales
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-us-walmart-results-ap-20220217-cyeso4l7mrc2rlosfphvviq2vq-story.html

How electric stoves are poised to
     dethrone the mighty gas range
https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/02/17/induction-cooktops-healthier-alternative-to-gas-stove/

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

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[headlines]
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Sports Briefs---

Inside the Madden memorial: Touching moments,
    star of the show, best-dressed and more memories
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/15/inman-john-maddens-memorial-produced-turducken-funny-stories-touching-reunions/

John Madden, Stan Bunger and a bond built
     over 5,000 conversations
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/Stan-Bunger-remembers-John-Madden-the-friend-he-16918769.php

John Madden’s life is celebrated at the Coliseum
    where it all started with the Raiders
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/02/14/john-maddens-life-is-celebrated-at-the-coliseum-where-it-all-started-with-the-raiders/

Whose House? Thousands cheer as Rams celebrate
    victory with parade, rally at Coliseum
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/02/17/fans-line-up-early-for-rams-victory-parade-through-la-streets-en-route-to-coliseum/

Steve Young questions if Trey Lance is ready
https://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/steve-young-questions-if-trey-lance-is-ready/

Tiger Woods back on the PGA Tour
     but only as a tournament host
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/sports/tiger-woods-back-on-the-pga-tour-but-only-as-a-tournament-host/

Jim Harbaugh contract: Michigan extends coach through
    2026 season, raising deal to $36.7 million
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jim-harbaugh-contract-michigan-extends-coach-through-2026-season-raising-deal-to-36-7-million/

Source: Green Bay Packers hire Aaron Rodgers favorite
     Tom Clements as QB coach
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33313385/source-green-bay-packers-hire-aaron-rodgers-favorite-tom-clements-qb-coach

[headlines]
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California Nuts Briefs---

California’s new plan for moving from “pandemic”
     to “endemic” COVID-19
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/02/17/californias-new-plan-for-moving-from-pandemic-to-endemic-covid-19/

Report says San Diego now is nation’s least affordable
     metro area, surpassing San Francisco
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2022-02-16/me-sd-smolens-affordable

San Jose delays COVID booster mandate
    after employees fail to comply
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/16/san-jose-postpones-covid-19-booster-mandate-after-hundreds-of-employees-fail-to-comply/

[headlines]
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"Gimme that wine"

Napa’s historic Shafer Vineyards sells to
    South Korean conglomerate for $250 million
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/Napa-s-historic-Shafer-Vineyards-sells-to-South-16923851.php

Quality of Chinese wine sees ‘significant’ boost
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2022/02/quality-of-chinese-wine-sees-significant-boost/

Over 1,000 bottles of smuggled Australian wines
      busted at HK-Shenzhen border
https://vino-joy.com/2022/02/16/over-1000-bottles-of-smuggled-australian-wines-busted-at-hk-shenzhen-border%EF%BF%BC/

New Senate Bill Would Allow Businesses,
    Non-Profits Ability to Conduct Wine Auctions
https://californiaglobe.com/articles/new-senate-bill-would-allow-businesses-non-profits-ability-to-conduct-wine-auctions/

“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

       1571 - A group of Spanish Jesuits in the Chesapeake Bay area, led by Fray Batista Segura, were murdered by the Indians to whom they had come six months earlier to convert. The massacre led ultimately to the withdrawal of all Jesuits living in Florida as well. On September 8, 1565, the first white colony, in what is now the US, was founded at St. Augustine, Florida by the Spanish under Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The first Catholic parish was founded by Fr. Don Martin Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of the Spanish expeditionary forces. The first introduction of European livestock, such as black cattle, horses, sheep and swine, into America was made by the Spanish in Florida. The Spanish began to settle the area, fighting all those who had laid claim to the land. On September 20th, Menéndez destroyed Fort Caroline and massacred most of its inhabitants. He renamed it San Mateo and, in the next two years, built a string of forts to Tampa Bay while looking for a water passage across Florida. The once “peaceful” Indians were either converted to Christianity or tortured and killed by the Spanish on their quest in the New World.
    1668 - Protest against slavery was made by the German Friends, or Quakers, at a meeting in Germantown, PA. They protested against the “traffic in the bodies of men” and considered the question of the “lawfulness and unlawfulness of buying and keeping Negroes.” Some of the protesters were Francis Daniel Pastorius, Dirck op de Graeff, Abrahama op de Graeff, and Gerhard Hendricks.
    1678 - John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" was first published, in England. Bunyan was frequently imprisoned for preaching without a license. During these sequestered times, (1660-72), Bunyan collected the ideas enabling him to pen this masterpiece of Christian literature. It was the most popular book in the new colonies.
http://www.hcis.net/users/miltozah/pilgrim1.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/025201894X/avsearch-df1-2-20/102-1682336-8966565
    1685 - Explorer Renee-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle established a French colony at Fort St Louis in Texas.
    1735 – The first opera was performed in America, "Flora," in Charleston, SC.
    1791 - Congress passed a law admitting the state of Vermont to the Union, after that state had existed for 14 years as a de facto independent largely unrecognized state.
    1795 - George Peabody (d. 1869) was born at South Danvers, MA.  American merchant philanthropist, he endowed the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, museums at Harvard and Yale, and the George Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville, TN.
    1834 – The first US labor newspaper, "The Man," published, New York NY
    1839 - Detroit Boat Club forms (still exists today).
http://www.detroitboatclub.com/
    1841 – The first filibuster in the Senate began over the issue of dismissal of the printers of the Senate. The filibuster continued until March 11. The first extended filibuster, debating the establishment of a national bank, began on June 21 and lasted fourteen days.
http://www.newsaic.com/ftvww39n.html
    1848 – Birthday of Louis Comfort Tiffany (d. 1933), at New York, NY. American artist, son of famed jeweler Charles L. Tiffany. Best remembered for his remarkable work and with decorative iridescent “vavrile” glass.   
    1859 - Scholem Aleichem (d. 1916) birthday, pen name of Russian-born author and humorist Solomon Rabinovitz. The musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” was derived from Aleichem’s short stories about Tevye the Milkman.  Affectionately known in the US as the “Jewish Mark Twain.”
    1861 - Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama. In the years before the Civil War, Senator Jefferson Davis was the acknowledged leader of the Southern bloc and champion of states’ rights, but he had little to do with the secession movement until after his home state of Mississippi joined the Confederacy on January 9, 1861. Davis withdrew from the US Senate that same day. He was unanimously chosen as President of the Confederacy’s provisional government, and he was actually surprised with the news while he was pruning the roses for the winter with his wife. Within the next year, he was elected to a six-year term by popular vote and inaugurated a second time on February 22, 1862 at Richmond, VA.
    1865 - In the Civil War, the Union fleet took the town of Charleston, South Carolina. In Columbia, SC, the fires still burned from the prior day’s invasion by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s federal troops who burned the state house to the ground. Bales of cotton were put to the torch, perhaps by Confederates to prevent their falling into federal hands. Strong winds scattered the burning cotton across most of the city. The entire south was becoming scorched earth as Gen. Grant’s plan was to cut off all supplies and food, and to blockade ships from Europe or free Southern ports.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb18.html
    1867 - The Augusta Institute was founded in Georgia. Established as an institution of higher learning for black students, it moved to Atlanta in 1879, and, in 1913, changed its name to Morehouse College.
http://www.morehouse.edu/
    1882 - Violinist Alfred De Seve, a native of Montreal, appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Mendelssohn's "Concerto in E Minor." His appearance was among the earliest by a Canadian soloist with a US orchestra.
    1885 - Mark Twain's “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was published in the United States for the first time. At the time, the book was banned by many libraries for its racial-equality overtones. One hundred and eleven years later, the book was again in the headlines, targeted to be banned from school reading lists because of its racial inequalities
    1892 - Wendell Willkie (d. 1944) was born at Elwood, IN. American lawyer, author, public utility executive and politician, Presidential nominee of the Republican Party in 1940. Remembered for his book, “One World,” published in 1943. He ran for the nomination in 1944 but suffered a series of four heart attacks and lost to New York Governor Thomas Dewey.
    1899 - While much of the central and eastern U.S. was recovering from the most severe cold wave of modern history, the temperature at San Francisco soared to 80 degrees to establish a record for month of February
    1908 - For the first time, United States postage stamps were sold. They cost a penny.
    1922 - Birthday of author/editor Helen Gurley Brown (d. 2012), Green Forest, AR.  While an advertising minor executive in 1962, she authored her first book, “Sex and the Single Girl,” an immediate and controversial best seller. In 1965, she was named editor of Cosmopolitan magazine and changed it into a splashy, upbeat magazine aimed at the young women. It even played the "Playboy" card and featured a male nude centerfold. The first was Burt Reynolds with an artful bear rug keeping the censors away. Circulation and advertising revenues shot up. She also wrote “Helen Gurley Brown's Outrageous Opinions” (1966), “Helen Gurley Brown's Single Girl's Cookbook” (1969), and “Sex and the New Single Girl” (1970).
    1924 - Bix Beiderbecke and the Wolverines cut first records in Richmond, Indiana, for Gennett (“Fidgety Feet,” “Jazz Me Blues,” “Lazy Daddy”).
    1927 - The "first great voice of the air," Jessica Dragonette, makes her radio debut on Cities Service Concerts.
    1928 - Drummer Frank Butler (d. 1984) birthday, Kansas City, MO
http://www.centrohd.com/biogra/b2/frank_butler_b.htm
http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/bio/0,,410461,00.html?artist=Frank+Butler
    1928 - Tenor Sax player Harold Land (d. 2001) birthday, Houston, TX
http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/land.html
http://www.view.com/land-bio.html
    1930 – A cow was milked while flying in an airplane. Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. During the flight, which was attended by reporters, she was milked and the milk was sealed in paper containers and parachuted over St. Louis, MO.
    1930 - Pluto, the ninth planet, was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff, AZ. It was given the name of the Roman god of the underworld. Some astronomers don’t accept Pluto as a planet.
    1931 - Toni Morrison, born Chloe Ardelia Wofford (d. 2019), Lorain, Ohio.  American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best-known novels are “The Bluest Eye,” “Sula,” “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved.” She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for “Beloved” and the Nobel Prize in 1993. On 29 May 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
    1932 - In Montreal, Canada, Sonja Henie won her 6th world women’s figure skating title.
    1933 – Yoko Ono was born in Tokyo.  Her relationship with, then marriage to John Lennon has been identified as one the reasons for the breakup of the group.
    1938 – “The Big Broadcast of 1938” was released.  One of the most famous motion pictures of all-time hit the silver screen. The film featured Bob Hope singing his version of, "Thanks for the Memory," which got an Oscar for Best Song. It also became his theme song for the remainder of his illustrious career. Also starring in the film were Dorothy Lamour and W.C. Fields.
    1939 - Golden Gate International Exposition opens on Treasure Island.  This was a World’s Fair celebrating, among other things, the city's two newly built bridges. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. The exposition opened from February 18, 1939, through October 29, 1939, and from May 25, 1940, through September 29, 1940.
http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist6/ti-statue.html
http://www.sfmuseum.org/views/ggieviews.ppt
    1942 – The Mills Brothers on Decca records recorded one of their three all-time greatest hits, "Paper Doll." The other two classics by the Mills Brothers are: "You Always Hurt The One You Love" (1944) and "Glow Worm" (1952).
    1943 - Birthday of American composer Alice Shields, New York City
    1943 - The Germans commit 26th Panzer and 29th Panzergrenadier Divisions to the attack on Anzio. Strong Allied artillery holds off and blunts the attacks. Kesselring and Mackensen realize that the Allied beachhead cannot be wiped out. The Germans launched a more intense assault against the 45th Division at dawn and destroyed one battalion of the 179th Infantry before pushing the remainder of the unit back a half mile farther to Lucas’ final defensive line by midmorning. Fearing that the 179th Infantry was in danger of giving way, Lucas ordered Col. William O. Darby, founder of the World War II era Darby’s Rangers, to take command of the unit and allow no further retreat. The regiment held, later counting 500 dead Germans in front of its positions. Elsewhere, the 180th and 157th regiments also held their positions in spite of heavy losses during three days of German attacks. By midday, Allied air and artillery superiority had turned the tide. (Leasing News Assoc. Editor Ralph Mango’s father was a B-25 tail-gunner in these missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.) When the Germans launched a final afternoon assault against the 180th and 179th regiments, it was halted by air strikes and massed mortar, machine gun, artillery, and tank fire. Subsequent enemy attacks on 19 and 20 February were noticeably weaker and were broken up by the same combination of Allied arms before ground contact was made. The crisis had passed, and while harassing attacks continued until 22 February, VI Corps went over to the offensive locally and succeeded in retaking some lost ground.
    1945 - Top Hits
Don’t Fence Me In - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
Accentuate the Positive - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
I Dream of You - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Freddy Stewart)
I’m Losing My Mind Over You - Al Dexter
    1949 - On CBS radio, "Yours Truly Johnny Dollar" debuted on CBS radio, starring Charles Russell as the insurance investigator. The show was the last of radio's major, dramatic network programs. Johnny Dollar continued until 1962.
http://www.wayback.net/jd.htm
    1950 – Actress Cybil Shepherd was born in Memphis.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” - Perry Como
“Till I Waltz Again with You” - Teresa Brewer
“Keep It a Secret” - Jo Stafford
“I Let the Stars Get in My Eyes” - Goldie Hill
    1953 – 3D, the new fad in America, was demonstrated in the movie, "Bwana Devil." The three-dimensional feature opened at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City. Arch Oboler directed the movie which starred Robert Stack and the three-dimensional Barbara Britton along with Nigel Bruce and Ramsay Hill. It was a Natural Vision-Magnetic Sound Track picture requiring Polaroid viewers. It was the story of a British engineer who tracked two man-eating lions that were disrupting the construction of the first railroad in East Africa at the run of the century. On April 10, “The House of Wax,” another 3-D film was exhibited at Paramount Theater, New York City, starring Vincent Price. It was also seen through Polaroid viewers. Historians believe the advancement of color, sound, and now 3-D, was to combat the emergence of television, which they thought would put the motion picture industry out of business.
    1953 - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz signed a contract worth $8,000,000 to continue the "I Love Lucy" TV show through 1955. The deal was the richest contract in television. “Babalu!”
The hour TV Show: http://timstvshowcase.com/lucydesibak.jpg
    1953 - Robbie Bachman was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Canadian rock band, which also included Robbie's brothers Randy and Tim on guitars, that was internationally popular in the 1970's with such hits as "Blue Collar," "Let It Ride," "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," a 1974 million-seller. At its peak, BTO won many polls and honors in the US, as well as seven Juno Awards.
    1954 – The First Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles.  The church was incorporated in December 1953 in Camden, NJ by L. Ron Hubbard, his wife and John Galusha.  Since 1952, Hubbard had already been selling Scientology books and technologies. In 1953, he wrote to Helen O'Brien, who was managing the organization, asking her to investigate the "religion angle."  Soon after, despite O'Brien's misgivings and resignation, he announced the religious nature of Scientology in a bulletin to all Scientologists, stressing its relation to the concept of Dharma. 
    1955 - John Travolta was born in Englewood, NJ.  Dancer, singer, actor “Pulp Fiction,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “Urban Cowboy,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and a lead role as Sweathog Vinnie Barbarino in the television hit “Welcome Back Kotter.”
    1956 - The Platters hit "The Great Pretender" peaks at #1 on the pop chart
    1956 - Pat Boone's cover version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" hits #12 on the pop chart.
    1956 - Although she was reluctant to record it in the first place, "Rock and Roll Waltz" by Kay Starr becomes the first number one record by a female in the Rock era. The disc would go on to sell over a million copies, but Kay would later say that she was never asked to perform the record on TV and seldom sang it during a live show.
    1957 - Birthday of Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune), born Vanna Marie Rosich, Conway, SC.
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Set/5304/vanna.html
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0001846/
    1959 - Some of the higher elevations of California were in the midst of a five day storm which produced 189 inches of snow, a single storm record for North America.
    1959 - Ray Charles records "What'd I Say.”
    1959 - The Everly Brothers record "When Will I Be Loved" and "Let It Be Me."
    1959 - Elvis Presley sings after-hours at the Lido Club in Paris while on leave from the US Army.
    1960 - The first artificial ice skating rink of Olympic size was formally opened by Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon at Squaw Valley, CA., for the VIII Olympic Winter Games. The opening was delayed to await Nixon’s arrival as the storm had held up his flight.  Freezing brine was piped into the rink through 70 miles of steel tubing. It had 300 feet of roof floating on cables suspended from 80-foot steel and concrete pillars.  A lack of snow had prompted organizers to hire Native Americans to do a snow dance but a deluge of rain was the only result. Snow finally arrived just before the opening ceremonies.   
    1961 - Top Hits
“Calcutta” - Lawrence Welk
“Shop Around” - The Miracles
“Calendar Girl” - Neil Sedaka
“North to Alaska” - Johnny Horton
    1962 - On weekend leave from marine training, The Everly Brothers appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Wearing full uniform and regulation cropped hair, the duo sang their new single, "Crying in the Rain," which was currently number 6 on the Billboard chart.
    1964 - "Any Wednesday" opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The play established Gene Hackman as an actor. Don Porter and Sandy Dennis also starred in the show.
    1964 - United States punishes nations for trading with Cuba
    1964 - While vacationing in Miami during their first trip to America, the Beatles engage in a photo shoot with heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay, better known later as Muhammad Ali. Clay: "You guys got to be making a lot of money. You ain't as dumb as you look." John Lennon: "No, but you are." That night the group visits a local drive-in to watch the new Elvis film “Fun in Acapulco.”
    1965 - Civil rights worker Jimmie Lee Jackson is beaten and shot by state police in Marion, Alabama. He dies eight days later.
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/selma.html
    1965 - The Beatles record "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Tell Me What You See"
    1966 - FERNANDEZ, DANIEL, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 February 1966. Entered service at: Albuquerque, N. Mex. Born: 30 June 1944, Albuquerque, N. Mex. c.o. No.: 21, 26 April 1967. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Fernandez demonstrated indomitable courage when the patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and driven back by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the Viet Cong attack. Sp4c. Fernandez, a sergeant and 2 other volunteers immediately fought their way through devastating fire and exploding grenades to reach the fallen soldier. Upon reaching their fallen comrade the sergeant was struck in the knee by machine gun fire and immobilized. Sp4c. Fernandez took charge, rallied the left flank of his patrol and began to assist in the recovery of the wounded sergeant. While first aid was being administered to the wounded man, a sudden increase in the accuracy and intensity of enemy fire forced the volunteer group to take cover. As they did, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group, although some men did not see it. Realizing there was no time for the wounded sergeant or the other men to protect themselves from the grenade blast, Sp4c. Fernandez vaulted over the wounded sergeant and threw himself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his 4 comrades at the sacrifice of his life. Sp4c. Fernandez' profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967 - Petula Clark's version of the Charlie Chaplin-penned "This Is My Song" tops the UK chart for the first of a two week stay. After singing the song in French, German and Italian, Petula reluctantly recorded the song in English, even though she thought the lyrics were corny and old fashioned. The tune would go on to be a Top Ten hit in America, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Holland, Belgium and Norway.
    1967 - The Buckinghams' "Kind of a Drag" hits #1
    1968 - Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, along with their female companions, head to Rishikesh, India to join the other two members of the Beatles in studying under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Everyday People” - Sly & The Family Stone
“Touch Me” - The Doors
“Build Me Up Buttercup” - The Foundations
“Until My Dreams Come True” - Jack Greene
    1969 - Elvis Presley records "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind," "Power of My Love," "After Loving You."
    1970 - Federal jury finds the "Chicago 7" innocent of conspiring to incite riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. However, 5 were convicted of crossing state lines with intent to incite riots.
    1972 – The death penalty was declared by the California Supreme Court to be cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the state constitution. 107 inmates were taken off death row. Among those spared by the ruling was Charles Manson.
    1972 - Neil Young receives a gold record for "Harvest," the only Number One record of his lengthy career. The album includes the Number One single "Heart of Gold”.
    1973 - The syndicated radio show "The King Biscuit Flower Hour" debuted with Blood, Sweat and Tears and a then-unknown Bruce Springsteen. The program was an American syndicated radio show presented by the D.I.R. Radio Network that featured concert performances by various rock artists, including the Rolling Stones, U2, Elton John and David Bow.  The program was broadcast on Sunday nights from 1973 until 2007, although new programming ceased in 1993 and previous shows were repeated from that point. During its prime, the program was carried by more than 300 radio stations throughout the United States. The show's name was derived from the influential blues radio show "King Biscuit Time", which was sponsored by the King Biscuit Flour Co., and the hippie phrase "flower power."
    1973 - Richard Petty, the "King of Stock Car Racing," won the Daytona 500 before a crowd of over 103,000 spectators, marking the first time a stock car race had drawn over 100,000 spectators. No longer would there be questions about NASCAR’s mainstream popularity.
    1977 - Top Hits
“Torn Between Two Lovers” - Mary MacGregor
“New Kid in Town” - Eagles
“Blinded by the Light” - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
“Near You” - George Jones & Tammy Wynette.
    1978 - The third time would be the charm for a Topeka based group called Kansas. After scoring Top 40 hits with "Carry On Wayward Son" (#11) and "Point Of Know Return" (#28), "Dust In The Wind" entered the Billboard chart on its way to becoming the group's only Top 10 hit.
    1979 - Richard Petty became the first man to win six Daytona 500s. Winning the most prestigious event in any sport six times is enough to earn the nickname "The King," but Petty is perhaps most famous for his 1967 season in which he won twenty-seven of forty-eight races, including a record ten straight victories. In a sport where mechanical failure is commonplace, Petty’s total domination was seen as superhuman. "The King" came from royal stock. His father, Lee Petty, was the first man to win the Daytona 500.
    1979 – New York record low temperature:  -52º F (-47º C) at Old Forge.
    1979 - Miniseries "Roots: The Next Generations" premieres on ABC TV.
There is controversy that the original story was plagiarized from a 1967 novel by white author Hal Courlander. This miniseries, two years after the original, is about Arthur Haley’s actual life, and begins where the original series left off in 1882.
http://www.martinlutherking.org/roots.html
    1993 - Howard Stern's radio show begins transmitting to Rochester, NY.
http://www.eonline.com/On/Howard/
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/heynow2/
(This is X-rated and typical Howard Sterns: http://www.howardsterndivorce.com/)
    1981 – The first budget of President Reagan proposed the largest tax cuts and spending curbs ever for an administration. In his first State of the Union message, Pres. Reagan called for cuts of $41,000,000,000 in the budget President Carter had submitted. He also proposed a 10% income tax cut in each of the next three years, an increase of about $5,000,000,000 in defense spending and more liberal depreciation rules for business.
    1983 - The Wah Mee Massacre in Seattle is the worst mass-murder in the history of Washington State.
http://www.wahmee.com/chapone.html
    1984 – Reed Larson, Detroit, Michigan got two assists, making him the highest scoring, American-born player in National Hockey League history. Larson broke Tom Williams' previous record by scoring his 432d point.
    1985 - Top Hits
“Careless Whisper” - Wham! featuring George Michael
“Loverboy” - Billy Ocean
“Method of Modern Love” - Daryl Hall John Oates
“Make My Life with You” - The Oak Ridge Boys
    1985 – Diver Greg Louganis was recognized as the top amateur athlete in the United States when he received the James E. Sullivan Award of the Amateur Athletic Union. Louganis won double gold at the 1984 Olympic Games.
    1987 – Girl Scouts Change Color of Uniform: The executives of the Girl Scout movement decided, because the older girls wanted a change, that it was time to change the color of the scout uniform from the traditional Girl Scout green to the newer Girl Scout blue.
    1989 - Low pressure off the coast of North Carolina brought freezing rain and heavy snow to Virginia and the Carolinas. Snowfall totals in Virginia ranged up to 18 inches at Franklin. Freezing rain reached a thickness of two inches around Charlotte.
    1989 – Dodger 1B Steve Garvey married Candace Thomas while at same time being accused of fathering children by 2 other women.
    1995 - Jansen Wins Gold: American speed skater Dan Jansen won a gold medal in the 1,000 meter race at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
    1995 - Hootie and the Blowfish's "Hold My Hand" peaks at #10 on the pop chart.
    1995 - Top Hits
“Take A Bow” - Madonna
“Creep” - TLC
“On Bended Knee” - Boyz II Men
“Another Night” - Real McCoy
    1997 – Trinity Broadcasting Network, a U.S. Christian TV net, cancelled Pat Boone’s weekly gospel music show after he appeared in black leather and fake tattoos on the American Music Awards show. The network said it received thousands of protest phone calls and letters from its ‘prayer partners’. Boone explained that his garb was designed to promote his album "In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy."
    1998 - New standard for 56k modems: As speeds from ISDN connections, DSL, and now cable were threatening dials-up, the two major rival modem makers, 3Com Corporation and Rockwell International, announced a new standard for 56K modems. There still was confusion and it was hoped the new “high speed” would boost sales and overcome the growing competition. The battle over the protocol gave the rivals more sales, enabling them to lower prices even further.
    1998 – Harry Caray, born Harry Carabino, long-time Chicago Cubs broadcaster died at the age of 83 in Rancho Mirage, California.
    1999 – Dr. Ross Leaves “ER.” The much-anticipated departure episode on NBC's “ER”  of Dr. Doug Ross, played by George Clooney, aired, was the top-rated show for the week, and earned a higher Nielsen rating than it had in many months. Each ratings point represents 994,000 households. “ER” earned a 23.8 rating, watched in 23.7 million homes.
    2000 - Top Hits
“I Knew I Loved You” - Savage Garden
“Thank God I Found You” - Mariah Carey Featuring Joe
“Amazed” - Lonestar
“What a Girl Wants” - Christina Aguilera
    2001 - NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr., was killed in a crash during the Daytona 500 race. 
    2001 - FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested and accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. 
    2003 - In South Korea, at least 120 people were killed when a man lit a fire on a subway train. 
    2006 - American Shani Davis won the men's 1,000-meter speed skating in Turin. He was the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history.
    2010 – Wikipedia published the first of hundreds of thousands of classified documents disclosed by the soldier now known as Chelsea Manning.
    2012 - Pope Benedict XVI announced seven new saints, including American saint Kateri Tekakwitha, and appointed 22 new cardinals.  Given the name Tekakwitha, baptized as Catherine and informally known as Lily of the Mohawks (1656 – April 17, 1680), she was an Algonquin-Mohawk laywoman. Born in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, on the south side of the Mohawk River, she contracted smallpox in an epidemic; her family died and her face was scarred. She converted to Roman Catholicism at age nineteen, when she was renamed Kateri, baptized in honor of Saint Catherine of Sienna. Refusing to marry, she left her village and moved for the remaining 5 years of her life to the Jesuit mission village of Kahnawake, south of Montreal.  Tekakwitha took a devout vow of perpetual virginity. Upon her death at the age of 24, minutes later witnesses said her scars vanished and her face appeared radiant and beautiful. Known for her virtue of chastity and mortification of the flesh, as well as being shunned by her tribe for her religious conversion to Catholicism, she is the fourth Native American to be venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the first to be canonized.
    2014 - Stock shares of automaker Tesla rise above $200 after reports that Apple, Inc. executives met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2013 to potentially discuss an acquisition
    2014 - Coca Cola Company announces that it plans to reduce its costs by $1 billion over the next few years in an effort to counteract slowing demand. 
    2019 – Sixteen states combined to sue President Trump over his use of emergency powers to build the border wall.
    2020 – Boy Scouts of America filed a petition for Chapter XI bankruptcy protection and is currently restructuring its financial situation. On November 16, 2020, the National BSA disclosed in their bankruptcy filings that over 92,000 former Scouts had reported sexual abuse by members of the organization. In December of 2021, the insurer for the Boy Scouts of America agreed to pay $800M into the fund for victims.