Man in custody for Rabobank robbery

The county Sheriff’s department arrested one suspect and is looking for another in connection to the Nov. 29 robbery of Rabobank in Goleta.

Nineteen-year-old Christopher Turner from Los Angeles was arrested as the result of a search warrant served by the LAPD. Turner was booked into the Los Angeles County Jail for robbery and held on a $1,000,000 bond. The search continues for a 16-year-old suspect and a third man. Sheriff’s deputies have issued a $1,000,000 warrant for the arrest of the juvenile.

The Nov. 29 robbery took place at 5340 Hollister Ave. in Goleta. One of the suspects displayed a handgun and ordered the bank employees onto the ground and the other two suspects systematically went to each teller and broke into the vault and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Sheriff’s department is asking anyone with information regarding the suspects or the robbery to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150.

 

Superintendent Michaud resigns

After six years, Superintendent Steve Michaud has resigned from the Solvang School District.

The district’s board of trustees announced the resignation Dec. 20 after an emergency board meeting.

Michaud served as superintendent since 2001, and also as principal for the school since 2005.

The board reported that Michaud “served with distinction” and that his decision to resign came in the past six months and was based on his increased responsibility with his dual role as superintendent and principal. He reportedly asked the board to seek “new leadership that can continue to move the district forward in a positive and productive manner.”

Michaud said the “stress of the responsibility has taken a physical toll” on him and that he plans to take time off and regain his health.

The board is now considering whether to contract for part-time administrative services with Chris Whitmore, who is with Blockman Union School District, a one-school district, covering students from Sisquoc, Garey and Tepusquet. Classes in Solvang School District begin Jan. 7.

 

Private school opens in Santa Ynez

A new private school, the Montessori Children’s House, is now open in Santa Ynez. Available for children between the ages of 2 and 6, the school focuses on the Montessori teaching method.

Teacher and school head, Bonnie Gordon, has been an educator for 27 years, training at the Montessori Institute in Santa Monica and working at Santa Monica and Malibu Montessori schools. She also opened a school in Ventura, which she directed for 10 years, and then headed the Goleta facility for the past seven years.

The Montessori program was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who believed that children educate themselves through their surroundings. She focused on cultivating a child’s natural desire to learn and developed a program that stimulated this natural desire. Those needing more information can call 688-2902.

 

Video production class wins honors

Students in the Santa Ynez School video production class have been invited to represent Santa Barbara County at the California Student Technology Showcase on March 8 in Palm Springs. Teacher Chris Scott will present the class project at the first annual Santa Barbara County Education Office Classroom Technology Showcase, set for Jan. 17 in Summerland.

The event is sponsored by QAD, a software company.

The invitation came after students participated in a November event in Santa Barbara with the county education office.

Named as the top entry in that competition, the class received a video camera and funds for the Palm Springs excursion.

During the upcoming event students will show their work in web, video, multimedia, graphic art, sensor-probe data and analysis, animation, and database development.

 

Students donate to the homeless

Fourth and fifth-grade students from the Family School delivered gift bags to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission during a field excursion Dec. 13.

The students, who also raised funds for the trip, held a holiday bazaar, featuring student craft projects, baked goods and the resale of “gently-used” books and toys. The funds will go to the homeless.

Soccer team remembers teenagers

Members of the Dunn School boys’ junior varsity soccer team raised more than $3,700 for the Santa Ynez People Helping People toys for children holiday program. A few days before Christmas, the students participating in the fundraiser were allowed to select 340 new toys from the Target outlet in Santa Maria, including balls, guitars, games and other toys specifically for teenagers.

Because teenagers are sometimes forgotten in the toys for children drives, the school’s faculty members were pleased with the project. “We were especially happy to purchase gifts for other teenagers,” said Rick Choi, a Dunn student.

 

Students complete Reindeer Run

With fitness in mind, 130 students from six area schools participated in a 2-and-one-half-mile Reindeer Run around the Dunn School track on Dec. 21. The project, directed by Dunn’s Middle School and Linda Smith, said students were not timed and that most finished the run and received a gift bag filled with prizes donated from area businesses.

As a bonus to participants, Santa Barbara County firefighters from the Lake Cachuma Hot Shots Crew joined in the run. Participants were students from Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy, Dunn Middle School, Jonata Middle School, Los Olivos School, Santa Ynez School, and Santa Ynez Valley Charter School.

 

Funds still being accepted for crash victim

Matching funds are still being accepted by the Vikings of Solvang for its Clayton Matching Fund, a project created to assist Clayton FitzGerald, who was injured seriously during a plane crash.

Clayton, 18, was rescued May 9, 2007, after the plane in which he was a passenger crashed into thick brush in the Los Padres National Forest, about 10 miles northeast of Figueroa Mountain. It took more than a day before he and the pilot were located and airlifted to safety.

The fund is for injuries not covered by insurance.

The estimated expense for medical repairs to his jaw, teeth and face were $55,000.

All donations given to the fund are matched by the Vikings of Solvang, according to Hans Larsen, Viking chief. So far, donations have reached $8,000. Donations, which are tax deductible, can be sent to Viking Charities, P. O. Box 293, Solvang, CA 93464. More information is available by calling 448-1895.