Posted: 24 Jun 2020 11:34 AM PDT

car — Bill Swanson, former CEO of Raytheon Company.
Center of Effort Winery

Bill Swanson, retired chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company, which is now known as Raytheon Technologies, founded the Center of Effort winery in California's Edna Valley in 2008. Since that time, Swanson has discovered that winemaking, as he puts it, is "like building an aircraft." He would know, as the leader of Raytheon Company from 2004 -2014 he oversaw one of the world's most respected aerospace, technology and defense engineering firms—a company that, among other things, helped guide the Apollo space missions to and from the Moon. Despite all the work in space, defense, and technology, Swanson was attracted to a retired life rooted in gravity—-specifically farming and winemaking. He, his wife Cheryl, and the team at Center of Effort have spent the past decade experimenting with and documenting the process of making wine and the results are pure and elegant expressions of Edna Valley terroir.

Swanson is a California native; he received his engineering training at California Polytechnic State University but credits his grandfather, who migrated to California's San Joaquin Valley from Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, for inspiring his love of wine. "My Grandfather taught me that 90 percent of what's in the bottle comes from the vineyard; that is where is starts. Respect the land, take care of it and you'll have good shot at having good wine."

In 2019 they unveiled a sleek new visitor's center and demonstration kitchen where you can tour the winery and enjoy seated tastings with cheese and charcuterie pairings—all by appointment. The wines, which include chardonnay, pinot noir, and rosé, have been well-received by critics but Swanson is a fan of continuous improvement and experimentation, so expect more to come, including a rosé sparkling wine soon. In the meantime, he was kind enough to share how his lessons as a leader in aerospace and engineering apply to winemaking.

My grandparents migrated from Croatia's Dalmatian coast to the San Joaquin Valley. They had 400 acres of table grapes that were shipped around country. My grandfather maintained a small winery in the basement. I remember stomping grapes in his press, his red wine was so bold and thick you could stand a fork in it—we learned to appreciate wine as little kids, dipping bread into wine on saucer.

In 2005 I decided that I wanted 40 acres of land to grow grapes and went looking for acreage—then the recession hit. Corbett Canyon winery became available, but I was still working. I knew I wanted something to keep me busy when I retired, but never did I expect that winemaking was going to be so much work. We now own the adjacent acreage and currently have 140 acres—and we have a lot of fun. You will never learn it all with wine.

One of the lessons I learned in aerospace was to worry about the things you can control, and sustainable winemaking lets you control everything that goes into the bottle. When I bought land in 2008 it wasn't farmed in a way that respected vineyard, so we became sustainable farmers. Everything we do is natural.

An important tenet of my life is "to ease the way for those that follow." This holds true in work, non-profits, or anything I do in life. For some wineries, all of the best information is in their heads, and none of the best processes or practices are documented. Your legacy happens after you leave, not while you are there. We spent a lot of time at the winery writing everything down, creating processes. We tried different things and documented the best ones. We also put human resources discipline into place. It's not clear how many wineries have performance goals, measurements of progress, or merit reviews but you really need these things to be successful.

One of the things that amazed me about wine industry was the lack of uniform cost structure. There are a few different types of wineries: small family-owned, corporate owned, yacht vineyards (where they spend more money on winemaking then they'll ever get out of business…it is a yacht, never profitable), and then there are people in it who love farming, sharing wine, and are trying to have a break-even business that pays for itself. All are different models and there is not one single place to go to buy a standard software package for the wine industry. The accounting is done from the ground up (no pun intended). There is nothing you can buy that standardizes wine industry accounting or business operations. Each business has to develop their own or modify something different.

The Burgundian wines were the ones that spoke to me. I have had the chance to try wines all over the world and the wines of Burgundy, both chardonnay and pinot noir, are the most memorable for me. Not many people get to taste really good pinot—-if you get a good one on your taste buds then you are ruined for life. Pinot is one of the hardest to grow and our team does a great job. But, winemaking is like building an aircraft—it takes a long time. We are fortunate, we have 300 days of sunshine and we have a transverse valley which means wind can enter from two directions. We get a very fruit-forward wine, the pinot is a thinking person's wine; it's a complicated wine.

Our Giallo Solare, (2015) Chardonnay is the essence of Edna Valley terroir. It's bright crisp and has citrus and other flavors. This one was fermented and aged in concrete, which helps to preserve the purity of its fruit character. We will also do a red in the cement. I like giving the winemaking team different tools to experience and try things, small lots of very special wines.

Our Prova Pinot Noir (2017) is a truly special lot of a few barrels that were more elegant and different than our normal pinot. In Italy, when they build the cars they write Prova on the license plate which means to try, to test, so we decided to name this one Prova… and for full effect, we turned label vertically so it's like a license plate.

Beyond the Byline: ‘Play (real) ball!’ - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

Posted: 25 Jun 2020 03:00 AM PDT

Looking toward centerfield at the original Yankee Stadium you can see the monuments in the playing area.

The exterior of the original Yankee Stadium.

The place was cavernous.

I'm talking about the original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx — thee Yankee Stadium.

That's where real Yankee players played real baseball games against other real baseball teams.

It was a time when players wore flannel uniforms and Mickey Mantle scrambled around the three monuments that were in-play in center field, trying to limit extra base hits.

The dimension were short down either line and center was well over 450 feet.

This was a ballpark.

These were baseball players.

I think about those days as we anxiously await the start of Major League Baseball's 2020 shortened season. The pandemic has caused this delay, and what will be a less-than-fulfilling season.

I mean 60 games? What is that? What will it really prove?

But I guess it will still be baseball. Overpaid players guessing at pitches and striking out all too often. There aren't many Mike Trout's out there.

But there used to be in the 1960s. Every team and a Mike Trout or two or three.

The Yankees had Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and more. There were so many great players back then: Hank Aaron, Eddie Matthews, Warren Spahn of the Braves; Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal of the Giants; Roberto Clemente, of the Pirates; Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew of the Twins; Al Kaline, of the Tigers; Maury Wills, Tommy and Willie Davis, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale of the Dodgers; Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, of the Red Sox; Frank Robinson, Pete Rose, of the Reds; Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, of the Orioles; Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, of teh Cardinals; Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Cubs; Richie Allen, Robin Roberts, of the Phillies; and many more.

It was always good to see players like these in any game. First of all, these guys always gave 100 percent. They were a pleasure to watch.

I would love to go back and sit in the stands at Yankee Stadium or Connie Mack Stadium and watch a game start to finish.

My dad was a true baseball fan. One year, 1962 I think, dad took me and my mom to Pittsburgh to watch a weekend series between the Pirates and the San Francisco Giants. Dad said he wanted me to see some great baseball played by great baseball players.

Boy was he right.

During this game, a Giant hit a ball down the right field line into the corner of Forbes Field. The batter/runner decided to try to stretch it into a triple. Clemente ran the ball down, turned and threw a strike — all the way to third base — to nail the runner by three feet. It was one of the most amazing defensive plays I have ever seen on a baseball field.

Dad was right, we witnessed some really great baseball during those three games. Besides Clemente, I saw Mays, McCovey, Marichal and many more.

Of course, sitting in Forbes Field brought back memories of the 1960 when Bill Mazeroski hit that World Series-ending homer to defeat my Yankees. Just seeing that left field wall where the ball disappeared gave me the chills.

But that was baseball, pure and simple.

I hope the 2020 season is played, even partially, and a World Series champ is determined.

But I doubt we will ever see baseball played like it was in Forbes Field back in the 60s, nor will we ever see players like that again.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

AG DePasquale calls for new criminal justice reforms - Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

Posted: 13 Jun 2020 05:26 AM PDT

The Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg.

Meuser

Shapiro

DePasquale

WILKES-BARRE — Auditor General Eugene DePasquale this week said Pennsylvania could potentially save millions of taxpayer dollars and make society safer and stronger by continuing to reform the state's criminal justice system.

DePasquale released a special report outlining 18 recommendations to encourage continued bipartisan interest and cooperation in enacting criminal justice reform at the state and county levels.

"Beyond creating a more equitable approach to enforcing our laws, enacting criminal justice reforms can produce big savings for Pennsylvania taxpayers," DePasquale said. "We also need to make sure to invest in efforts to give inmates the ability to successfully re-enter society and avoid returning to prison."

The incarceration rate in the United States is the world's highest, with approximately 700 out of every 100,000 residents behind bars. Pennsylvania's rate is even higher, at roughly 725 per 100,000 people.

The state Department of Corrections spent $2.6 billion in the 2018-19 fiscal year to incarcerate approximately 46,000 people. Roughly $101 million of that total is spent every year to incarcerate people who have committed no new crimes but have instead technically violated their probation or parole by, for example, missing curfew.

DePasquale noted that Pennsylvania has made progress, including through a Clean Slate law signed by Gov. Tom Wolf that removes some types of criminal records from public databases. The law's goal is to make it easier for people convicted of nonviolent crimes that occurred more than 10 years ago to move past the stigma of having a criminal record.

He also pointed to the success and $543 million estimated cost savings of Pennsylvania's first Justice Reinvestment Initiative, enacted in 2012 under former Gov. Tom Corbett. The state's prison population and crime rate have fallen steadily since then, showing that it's possible to incarcerate fewer people while protecting public safety.

"It took some time, but people on both sides of the aisle finally realized that the 'lock-'em-up, throw away the key' approach to sentencing that began in the 1990s ultimately caused more problems than it solved," DePasquale said. "It's time for Pennsylvania to build on what we've learned and continue our progress."

DePasquale noted that his team solicited input from more than two dozen national, state, county and local experts and stakeholders, and heard the following concerns:

Needed pre-trial reforms

Indigent defense funding: Pennsylvania remains the only state that does not provide funding for the defense of indigent defendants, instead pushing that cost onto counties.

Cash bail: Judges frequently require defendants to post cash bail, which results in low-income defendants being incarcerated prior to trial and driving additional costs to taxpayers.

Risk assessments: Critics say risk-assessment tools used to help courts determine sentences may have a disproportionately negative impact on minority defendants.

Diversionary & treatment courts: Defendants struggling with addiction may benefit from being diverted to treatment rather than jail, which can produce a lasting benefit to both the individual and society while saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

Needed reforms during incarceration

Physical and mental health care: Pennsylvania spends less per inmate on health care than the national average. Shortages of mental health services throughout Pennsylvania exacerbate the problems in both state prisons and county jails, which rely largely on contractors to provide these services.

Education/workforce training: Data shows that every $1 spent on education in prison saves taxpayers $5 in related incarceration costs. In addition, Pennsylvania should remove barriers to post-prison employment to ensure inmates that receive job training can use it after their release.

Needed reforms after incarceration

Probation and parole: Currently, supervised release remains one of the biggest contributors to mass incarceration in Pennsylvania, as opposed to being a means of helping former offenders reenter society and thrive.

Pardons and clemency: The state Board of Pardons has been working to simplify the process of applying for a pardon and speed up the process of applying for clemency.

"Clearly there's room for more reform work to be done at all levels of the criminal justice system," DePasquale said. "We can treat people more equitably while saving taxpayers millions of dollars — something that is not only possible, but also necessary."

Rep. Meuser announces

CARES Act homeless funds

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week announced that Berks and Luzerne Counties have been awarded more than $2.4 million dollars by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support homeless Americans and individuals at risk of becoming homeless.

Berks County and Luzerne County each received Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), totaling $1,051,989 and $681,192, respectively.

This funding will support homeless families and individuals who have been affected by COVID-19.

The grants are intended to limit the spread of the virus among the homeless population and to prevent increases in homelessness due to financial distress.

The ESG announcements are in addition to the $707,893 and $1,226,697 awarded to Berks and Luzerne Counties, respectively, in initial allocations.

About HUD's ESG-CV funding:

In accordance with the CARES Act, HUD developed a new formula for these awards, accounting for variables that quantify the population currently experiencing and at risk of homelessness.

This funding can be used to:

— Make more emergency shelters available for homeless individuals and families.

— Operate emergency shelters by providing food, rent, security, maintenance, repair, fuel, equipment, insurance, utilities, furnishings, and supplies necessary for their operation.

— Provide hotel/motel vouchers for homeless families and individuals.

— Provide essential services to people experiencing homelessness including childcare, education services, employment assistance, outpatient health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment services, and transportation.

— Prevent individuals from becoming homeless and rapidly rehouse homeless individuals.

Shapiro: PA State Troopers

call for police hiring reform

The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association this week formally joined the coalition formed by Attorney General Josh Shapiro to end the practice of law enforcement agencies unknowingly hiring officers with documented patterns of excessive use of force or other misconduct.

"The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association supported a statewide registry from the beginning and we couldn't have formed such a strong statewide coalition without their help," Shapiro said. "PSTA was a vital part of our early discussions with lawmakers in 2019 and I commend them for being a constructive partner moving this key reform forward."

The PSTA thanked Shapiro for his leadership in conducting this important work and ensuring law enforcement has a seat at the table.

A statement released by the PSTA said:

"State Troopers enforce the law without any consideration of class, color, creed or condition. We continue to believe the Pennsylvania State Police has some of the most robust accountability measures in America, but these conversations are important. We have long supported a statewide registry so our department can ensure it only hires people who are worthy of being a Pennsylvania State Trooper. We look forward to being part of this effort."

The group consists of: the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert, FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby, President of the Pennsylvania State Lodge FOP Les Neri, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, and leaders in the Chiefs of Police Abington Chief of Police Patrick Molloy and Peters Township Chief of Police Douglas Grimes.

The group states: "Officers who engage in misconduct or use excessive force erode trust in law enforcement and make it harder for our communities to be and feel safe. When they leave an agency, or retire in lieu of termination, that record needs to go with them. We stand united in calling for reform of the hiring process so that law enforcement agencies have the information to make informed decisions about the personnel they hire."

This group is supporting legislation to accomplish this reform, versions of which have already been introduced in both the House and Senate by Rep. Chris Rabb and Sen. Jay Costa, respectively.

Interdepartmental police hiring reform has been called for by experts and grassroots community groups as well as the State Legislature Police Reform Working Group, and has recently been introduced at the federal level.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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How Former Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson Went From Aerospace To Winemaking - Forbes

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