Sacramento-area residents reduced water use by 25 percent in 2016 compared to 2013 even without a state mandate to conserve, according to an analysis of water use figures submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and the Regional Water Authority (RWA), which represents nearly two dozen water providers in the Sacramento region.

“The savings last year demonstrate that residents are continuing many of the water-wise behaviors adopted during the drought,” said RWA Water Efficiency Program Manager Amy Talbot. “The conservation ethic did not go away with the mandates.”

The State Water Board in May 2016 adopted a new Emergency Regulation that allowed water utilities to set their conservation standard based upon local water supply conditions and the utility’s ability to pass a “stress test” (to meet customer demand in the next three years if drought continued). Local water providers certified that they have adequate supplies to meet customer needs. “However, this was not a signal to stop using water wisely,” Talbot said. “Instead, it recognized that local water providers have planned and invested in building reliable supplies for decades.”

The 25 percent savings in 2016 comes on top of significant water use reductions over the past decade. Overall, the region’s water demands have decreased 9 percent from 2000-13, while population increased 17 percent. The region uses the same amount of water today as it did in 2000 while serving 400,000 more people. And, during the drought, the Sacramento region achieved some of the highest water use reductions in the state.

“Although the Sacramento region is no longer in a drought, we’re encouraging everyone to continue using water wisely,” Talbot said. “Droughts are a part of life in California and remind us that water is precious. Wasting water is foolish, especially when there are so many easy ways to conserve.”

RWA and local water providers are asking residents to turn off sprinkler systems until spring, especially in light of the recent drenching by winter storms. In addition, now’s a great time to consider how to save water indoors by, for example, replacing older fixtures with high-efficiency WaterSense-labeled ones. These include toilets, showerheads, faucets, aerators and weather-based sprinkler timers. Learn about more tips for using water wisely at BeWaterSmart.info.

RWA is a joint powers authority representing two dozen water providers and affiliates in the greater Sacramento area. Its primary mission is to help its members protect and enhance the reliability, availability, affordability and quality of water resources. RWA was awarded the national 2016 WaterSense® Excellence in Education and Outreach Award for its outstanding efforts to educate Sacramento-area residents about water efficiency and the WaterSense brand.

Specialty Commodities, Inc. (SCI), a subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM), is recalling a specific lot of dry roasted almonds because they may contain undeclared cashews. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to cashews run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the cashew-containing product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of cashews. The recalled dry roasted almonds were distributed between December 22, 2016, and January 19, 2017, to three customers, one of whom redistributed them for sale in either bulk bins or clam shells to retail outlets in California, including Safeway and Nugget Markets.

Representatives of SCI are working with DSD Merchandisers Inc., the distribution customer, and these outlets to ensure the product is removed from shelves and returned. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue.

Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary process irregularity that occurred at the third-party contract manufacturer that processed and packaged the almonds for SCI. Then, an inventory processing irregularity resulted in the almonds being forwarded to the impacted customers.

Please direct any customer inquiries to 770-752-8229 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday.

One Sacramento-based company has quietly and efficiently carved a niche into the home health care business by providing superlative care for patients and caregivers alike. The “whole-istic” business model of Advanced Home Health and Hospice (AHHH) has earned them not only professional accolades and a thriving business, but a stellar reputation for their positive results for even the most complex patient care. The beating heart of this organization is founder Angela Sehr. Sehr is a woman with a mission and a vision with patient wellbeing in the Sacramento area.

Born in Xian, China, home of the famous Terra Cotta Warriors, Sehr started college at 15 and became a nurse at 18. The youngest of nine children, her siblings are also high achievers with a judge, college professor, engineer and a teacher among her immediate family.

Shyly self-admitted as a teacher’s pet, she loved science from a very young age. She says her mother encouraged her children to all be independent. “Marry well, she said, but always be able to stand on your own two feet,” was her mom’s advice.

Sehr may now be the boss, but she is far from being afraid to roll up her sleeves when it comes to patient care. She paid her dues with years in hands-on nursing. In fact, she still takes care of patients herself, in addition to her many other duties. AHHH offers patients around the clock care, just one of the many aspects that separate them from their competition. “I go out to patients’ homes at 2 in the morning if they need it, just like everyone else on staff,” said Sehr.

Sehr is a Registered Nurse who has worked around the world with patients of all ages and many different health issues. She came to Sacramento, having worked in places like China and Saudi Arabia. She attended Sacramento State’s Nursing program and earned her BSN here, spending over a decade in pediatric care and found her way into Infusion care as a nurse for patients in need of this specialized help. She has built her company on years of caring for infusion patients. Her company carries her compassion forward, providing top-notch, compassionate care for patients and their families.

During a time when healthcare laws and models are in flux. Sehr’s company, AHHH has built a company that successfully and efficiently treats and maintains a base of anywhere from 600 to 800 patients, more than double similar programs of even healthcare giants like full-fledged local hospital systems. To meet the need AHHH has found, the company currently has a staff of approximately 400 highly-trained specialists performing an impressive array of care and support services, and specializes in “complex” patients, often avoiding such patients having to be readmitted to hospitals.

AHHH is as advertised. Staff is on-call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. They provide truly advanced wound care, infusion nursing, orthopedic, occupation and physical rehabilitation, speech and swallow function therapy, specialized medical social workers and a chaplaincy ministering to the patients and their loved ones. The tiniest staff member is a therapy dog.

AHHH is a Medicare Certified Home Health Provider. They are licensed by the by the California Department of Public Health. They have provided care for premature babies, pre-and post op patients, patients such as diabetics with wounds that can be nearly impossible to heal. Many of these are patients the hospitals have given up on and AHHH has succeeded where others have failed, improving patient outcome in terms of health and healing. Sehr is intent that her teams utilize the latest technology to treat patients and makes available ultrasound and laser therapy, in addition to debridement if physician ordered.

The Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) alone, per Sehr can be highly effective in treating, diabetic ulcers, venous stasis and arterial ulcers, and many other types of non-healing wounds.

The hospice care that Sehr’s company provides is a growing service, based on industry best practices, but also on her own experiences as a nurse. Most hospice patients they see are given six months or less to live, but that isn’t an outcome set in stone. “We don’t give up,” she says. “We’re not God, but people do ‘graduate’ from hospice. They do get better.”

Hospice care provides comfort care to patients and family. “Advanced hospice nurses are registered nurses specifically dedicated to end-of-life care. They are focused on pain and symptom management for our patients around the clock. In addition to serving the terminally ill, hospice clinical team counsel and educate caregivers and family members on the needs of the patient, guiding them through every issue that may arise. Our hospice nurses work as a part of an interdisciplinary team that develops and manages the care for our patients and their families.”

A vital part of their team are the hospice social workers who are there to support patients and their families. “Our social workers are trained to assist our patients and their families on developing an individualized plan of care, researching ways to relief stress and anxiety by non-medical means, and connecting them with appropriate local resources.

 “We understand that our patients and their families may have financial problems. Our social workers are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to provide counseling in these areas, as well as coordinating possible aid from other organizations,” Sehr commented.

What does it mean to be an advanced hospice social worker? According to AHHH, “It means to be a supporter of our patients and their families. Our social workers are trained to assist our patients and their families on developing an individualized plan of care, researching ways to relief stress and anxiety by non-medical means, and connecting them with appropriate local resources.

“A loss of a loved one, even if anticipated, brings a slew of emotions and grief for surviving family and friends. Our hospice bereavement professionals and volunteers are trained to provide counseling and support by understanding the loss and compassionately walking step by step with surviving spouses, children, or parents.”

“To help our patients cope with the end of their life, AHHH provides spiritual services by certified chaplains to promote spiritual and emotional well-being. Our chaplains may also work with the patient’s clergy and coordinate spiritual nourishment and revitalization.”

Sehr credits hospice volunteers for the selfless work they do as part of the organization. “Our hospice volunteers spend time with patients and their loved ones. They run errands and provide caregiver relief, companionship, and supportive services. Volunteers are the backbone of our hospice team.”. Volunteers form bonds with patients and family members. Patients and families often tell volunteers things they feel they can’t tell their loved ones and help open the way for people to talk honestly. Volunteers work alongside paid staff in every area of hospice care.”

AHHH truly treat the entire family, and that includes monthly bereavement support group meeting. “At Advanced Hospice, patients are nearing and passing the end of their life, leaving behind husbands, wives, sons, and daughters,” according to the company website.

“When a patient is diagnosed with a serious illness or is recovering from an injury, our medical professionals, nurses, and therapists work hard to rejuvenate him/her to normal life. In addition to purely medical procedures, medications, and techniques, a huge part of a person’s recovery depends on his/her psychosocial condition.”

AHHH is making a concerted effort to reach America’s veterans. “Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and we believe it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. That’s why our hospice is taking part in the We Honor Veterans program. Our staff understand the unique needs of veterans and are prepared to meet the specific challenges that veterans and their families may face at the end of life.”

AHHH measures its success with data, not just good feelings. Their clinicians log every visit in detail, right down to wound and physical improvement, modality effectiveness, length of visit and many more details. That data is analyzed for the benefit of each patient, but the accumulation of data is used by the company to improve patient outcome and patient satisfaction. The company has recently broken ground on its next project, a free-standing Hospice Facility. While starting small, at 6 beds, it will be the only hospice in the area and unlike any other, due again to Sehr’s experience and personal touch.

Dozens attended the recent Best of Fair Oaks Awards on January 19th at the North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks. Planned and hosted by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, the elegant event included honorary dignitaries, delicious food and beverages and a relaxed but anticipatory atmosphere of grandeur.

“The food was amazing and we absolutely loved the event. It was very organized and the venue was beautiful,” commented attendees, award contenders and event sponsors Kati Cotton and Megan Covey of the Art Box. “We sponsored the event because we love our community and want to be a part of it in any way! We were so close to winning and it is for sure ‘on’ for next year! We were honored to be in the top three for Best of Entertainment and Recreation.”

The award winners were voted on by Chamber members, Fair Oaks citizens and readers of the American River Messenger newspaper, owned by Messenger Publishing Group (MPG). Votes were accepted via email and tabulated by the American River Messenger staff. An impressive 442 businesses received votes, and winners were announced during the elegant, well planned event.

“Our 1st annual Best of Fair Oaks was a great success, and we already have ideas brewing for 2017! This special evening was all about celebrating our great little town and putting Fair Oaks on the map,” said Kimberley Pitillo, Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.

“We had a vision and ran with it. It was an evening of anticipation, elegance and surprise. I believe that recognition is the key to success. Winners were from all over Fair Oaks and in all types of business. Some were Chamber members and others were not, that’s what made this event spectacular. The Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce is about serving, representing and enhancing business growth and success in the Fair Oaks community and this is exactly what we did this evening,” continued Pitillo.

Attendees were greeted and seated by local 2016 -2017 student ambassadors: Junior Honorary Mayor Joshua Gumacal from Del Campo High School; Miss Fair Oaks Ashley Gaston from Bella Vista High School, Miss Ambassador Fair Oaks Audrey Nunez, also from Bella Vista High School; and Fair Oaks Chamber Youth Ambassador Matthew Mason. The teens did an impressive job representing their community. Each was kind, polite, articulate and confident. The youth were wonderfully dressed for the glamorous event and to be selected, had to go through a vetting process that included oral panel interviews.

Guests arrived dressed to the nines in “fancy business attire.” There were beautiful gowns on ladies, ranging from sequined party dresses to full length evening gowns. Gentlemen came with appropriate suits with ties, with a few holdouts going for California casual. No matter the clothing, the crowd was sociable as new people met and good friends and business acquaintances reunited.

The (literally) red carpet event was emceed by Diana Cralle

Major Chamber Recognition Award Winners

• Volunteer of the Year – Ronda Leuty - Calif. Ave Skin & Body Works
• Business Person of the Year - Roselyn Barbray - Optiva
• Business of the Year – Javita Coffee - owner Dot Boyd
• Citizen of the Year – Penny Howard
• Honorary Mayor - Rachel Griffith - Polka Dot Dinners
• Special Recognition - Jennifer Garets

According to American River Messenger Publisher Paul Scholl, “The event exceeded expectations. They (the Chamber and volunteers) did a fabulous job putting the entire event together. Executive Director Kimberly Pitillo and her wonderful staff were impressive. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year.”

In addition to MPG and the American River Messenger, other sponsors included the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival, LuLaRoe Megan Covey Boutique, the Art Box, Chocho’s Boutique and music by Melonnee Desiree. Professional photography was courtesy of Ryan Griffith.

There were 30 nominees in categories of Restaurants, Fast Food, Pizza, Coffee Shop, Grocery Store, Yogurt Shop, Community Centers, School/Educational Training, Pet Care/Store, Veterinarian, Creation & Entertainment, Salon & Beauty, Health & Fitness, Specialty Shop, Real Estate/Realtor, Bank/Credit Union, Accounting & Tax Service, Insurance, Service Clubs, Churches, Home Business and Event of the Year.

The delectable foods were in part provided by Smokey Oaks Tavern. Co-owner Blaine Santos said their signature smoked in house pulled pork sliders made their way to the beautifully arranged buffet tables.

Another Fair Oaks establishment, Mirabelle European Pastry Café, also contributed sliced cakes such Lemon Blueberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter, White Sponge with Fruit Glaze, Carrot Cake, and gluten-free options in addition to an equally tempting array of cookies. “The reason Mirabelle Cafe wanted to provide its pastries to supply the Best of Fair Oaks, is for the love of the Fair Oaks community we share. We wanted to personally cater to our community so that everyone could have a little taste of Mirabelle and the lovely treats we have to offer, according to Mirabelle owner Vincent Bartsch.

The Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce also extended thanks to the very professional staff at North Ridge Country Club, and General Manager Rink Sanford.