Santa Maria

No major injuries in collisions on 101

Two related vehicle collisions snarled early morning traffic for about an hour Wednesday on the southbound lanes of Highway 101, north of Main Street in Santa Maria.

Slowing traffic near Alvin Avenue caused the initial collision, which ended with both cars facing the wrong way, said CHP Officer Rob Wallace.

The second collision occurred soon after, when a truck changed lanes to avoid the wreckage, but the vehicle behind it was unable to slow down in time and rear-ended the truck, Wallace said.

Two people from the first accident were transported to Marian Medical Center for minor injuries, two drivers were cited for driving without a license and three vehicles were towed from the scene.

All parties were wearing seat belts, Wallace said.

Santa Maria

Local nonprofit needs volunteers

With more than 400 foster and special-needs children in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties requiring some holiday cheer, a local organization is asking residents to sponsor a child for Christmas.

The Family Care Network, a local nonprofit foster-care agency, reported that the need for volunteers is especially great as partners from previous years are "unable to participate ... as a result of the current economy."

Children and families served by the agency make a gift request that is placed on a "wish list" card and distributed to community members.

Volunteer to provide a gift as an individual, with friends, co-workers or family members by calling the Family Care Network at

781-3535 or visit the agency online at fcni.org.

All gifts must be delivered to one of the agency's locations by Dec. 4.

Santa Barbara County

Domestic-violence agency gets $50K

The county's only full-service domestic-violence agency has received a $50,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County announced Wednesday.

The money will support the Emergency Shelter Program, which provides life-saving, confidential shelter to battered women and their children, the group said.

The program provides 45 days of shelter, living essentials, referrals to legal and other services, as well as counseling, to address the trauma battered women and children have endured, according to the organization.

For more information about the Emergency Shelter Program, call 963-4458.

The 24-hour domestic violence hotline can be reached at 925-2160 in Santa Maria and 736-0965 in Lompoc.

Santa Maria

Democratic Club to host Jorgensen

The Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley has scheduled a meet-and-greet Nov. 19 with Marta Jorgensen, a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 24th District.

The club's monthly meeting begins at 7 p.m., but it will be preceded by an optional no-host social beginning at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.

Meetings are held at the International House of Pancakes at 202 Nicholson Ave, and reservations are required for dinner.

For more information and to make reservations, contact the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley at 349-2708 or visit santamariademocrats.org.

Santa Barbara

Helene Schneider next mayor of SB

Helene Schneider has been elected the next mayor of Santa Barbara, based on unofficial results from Tuesday's election.

Schneider, a city council member, had 10,254 votes - 45.8 percent - among five candidates, according to unofficial results. She would succeed Marty Blum, who will leave office due to term limits.

Grant House, an incumbent councilman, Harwood White, a planning commissioner, and Frank Hotchkiss, a businessman, were also apparently elected to three four-year term city council seats.

House received 15.5 percent and White received 14.2 percent, while Hotchkiss polled 12 percent in a field of 13 candidates in the running for three seats. Michael Kathleen Self, a businesswoman, with 11.9 percent, just 15 votes fewer than Hotchkiss, will serve for two years - the remainder of Schneider's council term.

Voters also appear to have rejected a measure to reduce the maximum allowed building height in the city from 60 feet to 45 feet and 40 feet within the El Pueblo Viejo district with 12,009 votes, 53.7 percent, to 10,343 votes, 46.3 percent.

Of 46,718 registered voters, 22,869 cast ballots - a turnout of 49 percent.

- From staff reports