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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Lake County Winegrape Commission announces the highly anticipated launch of its third year of Lake County Pruning School, which will begin December.
The Pruning School will once again be held in collaboration with Simonit & Sirch, a prestigious grapevine pruning firm that boasts more than 30 years of research and experience and an impressive client list of top vineyards in the United States and Europe.
“This will be the final year of our highly successful three-year program, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results so far,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “Each year, the sessions have sold out, and growers who have started implementing the technique are excited by what they’re seeing in the vineyards.”
This first-of-its-kind regional collaborative program is offered in both English and Spanish and has expanded over the years with engaging content and topics specifically developed based on participant input, including an advanced pruning course this year focused on head-trained vines.
“Vineyards in California that utilize head-trained systems exhibit remarkable longevity; many vineyards planted around the end of the 19th century are still producing high-quality grapes and wines today,” said Jacopo Miolo, general manager of Simonit & Sirch USA LLC. “The longevity of vines is essential for achieving sustainability in a vineyard.”
“One of the most important things for me is to learn how to extend the life of our vineyards,” said Pilar Luchsinger White, owner of Luchsinger Vineyards and a board member with the Lake County Winegrape Commission. “We have some blocks that are over 20 years old now, and it does require specialized pruning.”
Miolo noted the goal of the advanced pruning course is to enable students who have completed the first two courses to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, following the principles of the Simonit & Sirch pruning methodology to ensure the vine's performance is preserved over time.
Beckstoffer Vineyards has been a proponent of the program since its inception, even dedicating a demonstration vineyard block for the Pruning School’s hands-on instruction each year.
“We’re gaining a lot of knowledge,” said Pedro Rubio, general manager of Beckstoffer Vineyards Red Hills, “and the industry as a whole will benefit from this program.”
Lake County Pruning School is designed for vineyard owners, vineyard supervisors and crew leaders, and experienced vineyard workers.
Each class is limited to 15 students to enable one-on-one learning and an opportunity to exchange ideas and techniques with others in the cohort.
This year’s offerings include three levels of instruction, each with winter and spring components.
The introductory course consists of three days of practical hands-on lessons in the vineyard and provides in-depth fundamental principles applicable to all grapevine training systems: controlled branching, vascular flow, cuts and crown buds, and protective spare wood.
The three-day intermediate course begins with classroom instruction followed by hands-on instruction at two Lake County vineyard sites that allow for the exploration of young vines and cane-pruned vines.
The two-day advanced course builds on the first two courses and focuses solely on head-trained vines.
For eligibility information and to register for Lake County Pruning School, visit https://www.lakecountywinegrape.org/news-events/events/lake-county-pruning-school/.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NORTH COAST, Calif. — West Business Development Center has announced that its chief executive officer, Mary Anne Petrillo, is retiring after eight years of service, effective Dec. 31.
During her tenure, West Center achieved significant milestones, becoming a vital driver of economic growth and small business development throughout Mendocino County and rural Northern California.
Since becoming CEO in 2017, Petrillo has overseen a period of substantial growth and innovation.
Under her leadership, the organization has achieved several significant milestones, including:
• Nearly tripling the number of clients served, increasing from 238 to 758 annually through comprehensive business training, strategic initiatives, confidential advising, and financial grant support.
• Launching Centro Latino West, the first all-Spanish small business development program in the region, expanding access and fostering inclusion for Latino entrepreneurs.
• Introducing StartUp Mendocino, a rural regional business accelerator that celebrates local entrepreneurship and drives innovation in underserved communities.
• Championing a regional Blue Economy strategy on the Northern California Coast, aligning partnerships and securing investments to revitalize our working waterfront, elevate the importance of harbor restoration and advancing the Noyo Ocean Collective.
• Forging strategic partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as financial institutions, securing vital funding and collaboration that continues to benefit the local economy.
“We are deeply grateful for Mary Anne’s visionary leadership and the profound impact she has had on the business community,” said Michelle Hutchins, Chair of the West Center Board of Directors. “Her dedication to advancing small business development—especially in rural and underserved areas — has been extraordinary. While we will miss her leadership, we are optimistic about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.”
West Center has launched an open search for a new CEO to guide the organization through its next chapter.
The board of directors is committed to identifying a dynamic leader who will build upon the strong foundation laid by Petrillo and advance the organization's newly completed strategic plan.
This strategic plan, which outlines West Center’s priorities for the next several years, will guide the staff, board, and stakeholders in continuing their mission to promote regional economic growth and small business development throughout Mendocino County and beyond.
“We are well-prepared for this transition,” added Tim Karas, vice chair of the board. “With strong governance practices, comprehensive policies, and a dedicated team in place, we are confident that West Center is poised for continued success. We look forward to welcoming a new CEO who will lead us into an exciting future.”
The board invites qualified candidates to apply for this unique leadership opportunity and looks forward to ushering in the next chapter of growth and innovation at West Center.
All inquiries for this position should be made to
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The agreement sets a goal of increasing the availability of sustainable aviation fuel for use within California to 200 million gallons by 2035, an amount that would meet about 40% of intrastate travel demand — a more than tenfold increase from current levels.
“California and the aviation industry are joining forces to tackle emissions head-on. We’ve put the tools in place to incentivize cleaner fuels and spur innovation, creating opportunities like this to radically change how Californians can travel cleaner. This is a major step forward in our work to cut pollution, protect our communities, and build a future of cleaner air and innovative climate solutions,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
This achievement was made possible by the development and innovation of alternative fuels spurred by the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program.
“California is once again demonstrating that smart climate action is good for the environment and good for business,” said California Air Resources Board, or CARB, Chair Liane Randolph. “This partnership with the nation’s leading airlines brings the aviation industry onboard to advance a clean air future and will help accelerate development of sustainable fuel options and promote cleaner air travel within the state.”
A4A’s members include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS, and associate member Air Canada.
"A4A is pleased to launch a partnership with CARB focused on protecting the environment, reducing emissions, and increasing the use of SAF in California and across the country,” said Kevin Welsh, Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Airlines for America. “This partnership reflects the type of collaboration between government and the private sector that is necessary to achieve ambitious climate goals, and the agreement announced today reflects the strength of our commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future for air travel. We're excited to work with CARB and other SAF stakeholders to further our industry's efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050."
Key goals of this agreement
CARB and A4A will work together with sustainable aviation fuel producers, aviation stakeholders and the federal government to ensure that at least 200 million gallons of cost-competitive options are available for use by airlines within California by 2035.
To achieve these goals, CARB and A4A will work together to identify, evaluate, and prioritize new policies and actions, including incentives for investment and timely permitting to help accelerate the availability and use of sustainable aviation fuels within California.
The partnership will establish a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Working Group of government and industry stakeholders that will meet annually to report progress and address barriers to meeting these goals.
CARB staff plans to create a public website that will display the latest information on the availability and use of conventional jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel in California, as well as details on relevant state and federal incentives and policies.
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- Written by: Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
If you choose to celebrate with alcohol, designate a sober driver, or use public transportation or a ride-hailing service to arrive at your location and return home safely.
The department also urges ABC-licensed establishments to carefully monitor alcohol service to the public.
These licensed businesses play an important role in reducing DUI’s by checking IDs and not over-serving patrons.
“Too many Californians are killed or injured in alcohol-related crashes and incidents,” said ABC Director Joseph McCullough. “ABC encourages everyone to make Halloween celebrations as safe as possible.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2022, nearly half of all crash fatalities during Halloween night were alcohol related.
The public can help prevent tragic crashes by doing the following:
• Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
• Be alert for trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians.
• If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
Halloween enforcement efforts are funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the NHTSA.