If you’ve gone out to eat at any restaurant in Sacramento County you probably noticed the color-coded sign posted near the entrance with results of the establishment’s latest health inspection. January 2012 marks the 5-year anniversary of Sacramento County’s Green-Yellow-Red food facility rating program. Since the program began, food facilities receiving a green or “Pass” placard increased from 88 to 94 percent, said Val Siebal, director of the Environmental Management Department. At the same time, major health risk violations that could potentially cause foodborne illness have decreased. Restaurants are inspected three times a year and other food facilities twice a year. Routine inspecti

Landscaping the River-Friendly Way: Learn how to save water and grow healthy plants at free workshops River-friendly landscaping is a whole systems approach to gardening and landscaping that works to support the integrity of one of California’s key ecosystems, the Sacramento River watershed. River-friendly landscaping practices foster soil health, conserve water and other valuable resources, reduce waste and prevent pollution of our air and waterways. Benefits to you: - Saves money on water, fertilizers and pesticides - Reduces green waste in your landscape - Requires less maintenance such as mowing and trimming - Attracts wonderful birds and butterflies to your garden Benefits to the c

Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off swim season in Sacramento.  That means we’ll soon be heading to the beaches and pools to soak up the sunshine and cool off.  On Tuesday, May 24, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to proclaim May 23 – 29, 2011 as Recreational Water Illness and Injury (RWII) Prevention Week. The goal of this observance is to raise awareness about healthy and safe swimming behaviors, and how you can prevent illnesses when enjoying swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. 2011 RWII Prevention Week Theme: Swimmer’s Ear Swimmer's ear (also known as otitis externa) is an in

Some Sacramento County residents may soon be represented by a different County Supervisor. Why? The reason is some supervisorial district lines will change when the County’s redistricting process is completed later this year. The redistricting process is not new. Every ten years the County must redraw the supervisorial district lines using new census data. Births, deaths and moving all contribute to population shifts from one census to the next. Based on the 2010 census, Sacramento County’s supervisorial district lines must be redrawn to keep the average population in each district at about 282,000. Three districts will grow, while two will shrink. According to California Elections Code,

Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) is alerting restaurant operators and others in the food facility industry about fraudulent activity involving an individual or individuals contacting food establishments claiming to be a health inspector. EMD has received complaints that someone using various names is calling local food businesses claiming to be a “health inspector” and stating an inspection is scheduled, usually for the next day. The restaurant operator is then given a phone number to call to verify the inspection, and in some cases a “confirmation number” is also given. However, there is no such inspection and the inspector imposter never arrives. John Rogers,