For some, 1999 is only a distant memory, but for Blustein, Shapiro, Frank & Barone, LLP, 1999 marked the start of something great. It marked the ambition and commitment of a small handful of attorneys dedicated to providing superior legal services to those in need throughout the Hudson Valley.

Of course, things have changed a great deal over the last 20 years. Blustein, Shapiro, Frank & Barone, LLP has grown both in size and breadth of service. In fact, BSF&B is now one of the region’s premier law firms, representing businesses (both big and small), municipalities, families, and individuals. Still, the commitment made 20 years ago to providing superior legal services remains. Thank you to all who have put their faith in us, and provided emotional support along our journey.

Before we start our journey into the next 20 years, we thought we’d take a look at what else was happening in that momentous year that we hung our shingle….

In 1999…

• JANUARY: The European Union creates the Euro to be a European single currency.
• FEBRUARY: U.S. President Bill Clinton is acquitted on both articles of impeachment: perjury and obstruction of justice.
• MARCH: The Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon, piloted by Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard, becomes the first balloon to fly nonstop around the world.
• MARCH: Shakespeare in Love wins the Oscar for Best Film.
• APRIL: Two teens kill 13 people and wound more than 20 others at Columbine High School, marking the worst high school shooting in U.S. history (to date).
• MAY: Slobodan Milošević and four others are indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands.
• JUNE: Napster, a music downloading service, debuts.
• JULY: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team wins the FIFA Women’s World Cup, prompting Brandi Chastain to whip off her shirt and run around in her sports bra after kicking the final shot.
• AUGUST: A total solar eclipse is seen in Europe and Asia.
• SEPTEMBER: Ex-Pittsburgh Penguins star Mario Lemieux is approved as the new owner of the Penguins, marking the first club in pro sports history to be owned by a former member of the team.
• OCTOBER: The New York Yankees win the World Series for the 25th time!
• OCTOBER: Despite being blind since the age of 3, sportswriter Eddie Timanus wins on Jeopardy and becomes a 5-time Jeopardy champion.
• NOVEMBER: The National Assembly of Kuwait revokes a 1985 law that previously granted women’s suffrage.
• DECEMBER: The United States, in accordance with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, officially hands over control of the Panama Canal to Panama.
• The American Express Black Card is launched.
• Baby One More Time by Britney Spears hits the charts.
• Bill Gates is considered the most famous person in America.
• PayPal, now one of the most widely used payment services on the planet, is viewed as one of the 10 worst business ideas of the year (seems they had the last laugh!).
• Y2K hype gets everyone paranoid that the end of the world is near. Billions of dollars are spent world-wide on Y2K upgrades for computer software.
• ABC’s Who Wants To Be a Millionaire is the top TV show.
• There is no Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Reddit.
• The average cost of a new house: $131,750.00
• The average income per year: $40,810
• The average cost for a gallon of gas: $1.22
• The price of a postage stamp: 33 cents
• The Top Ten Baby Names: Emily, Hannah, Alexis, Sarah, Samantha, Jacob, Michael, Matthew, Joshua, and Nicholas

We hope you enjoyed this flash back!