Hotline director knows county

Evan Mendelson is back in San Luis Obispo County's nonprofit world, this time as the new executive director of Hotline of San Luis Obispo County.

Mendelson has worked in nonprofit management for 20 years and led LifeSpan Services Network, a senior services agency in San Luis Obispo County. She spent the last two years as a national consultant to family foundations.

Hotline offers 24-hour crisis support, counseling and referral service for people with questions ranging from suicidal depression and how to escape a violent spouse to finding affordable care for children or the elderly. It receives about 25,000 calls a year.

Hotline also publishes an annual comprehensive directory of resources and agencies in the county for people in need of health and human services.

One of Mendelson's first goals is to develop the number 211 as a hotline number. Similar to 411 and 911, 211 is a universally used number that is easy to remember. It is already in place in 30 states and other parts of California. Hotline of SLO County will also soon be able to help determine what kinds of services are in demand -- and which needs are not being met. Mendelson has raised $6,000 to buy software that will catalogue the calls that come in. "That way," she said, "we can work to build those services."

-- Melanie Cleveland

Cliffs Resort to host labor law seminar

The Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach is hosting a 2005 Employment Law Seminar on June 9.

The program -- labor management hot spots and pitfalls -- will cover topics on hiring, background checks, workplace investigations, wrongful discharge, training and developing an employment handbook.

Labor relations specialist Thomas Giovacchini is the keynote speaker and will discuss what and what not to do when hiring an employee, as well as new developments in labor law.

The seminars run from 8:30 a.m. to noon and cost $40. Reservations are required. For more information or to sign up, call 471-3234.

-- Dawn Rapp

Trim your summer power use and $ave

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is offering incentives for consumers to use less electricity this summer. Customers who reduce their electric summer usage by 20 percent over last year's total will receive a 20 percent credit from June to September. The credit will be reflected on the October bill.

The 20 percent credit over four months is cumulative, so customers can use more one month as long as they reduce the usage the next month. To participate, customers can log on to www.pge.com/2020 and check their usage.

For more information, visit http://www.pge.com/.

-- Dawn Rapp

Mid-State Bank & Trust appoints new officer

Edward E. Rogers has been appointed vice president and commercial banking officer at Mid-State Bank & Trust in San Luis Obispo.

Roger will responsible for helping with commercial and construction loans to customers in San Luis Obispo, Los Osos, Morro Bay and Cayucos.

Rogers has 37 years in the banking industry and was formerly the vice president and manager of Washington Mutual's Commercial Banking Center in Bakersfield.

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The Cuesta College Small Business Development Center will hold a business start-up workshop on June 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Topics will include business license requirements, financing a business, taxes, and components of a business plan. The session is free and will be held at 3566 S. Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.

-- Dawn Rapp