Ventura College hosted students from Oxnard’s Santa Clara High School for the Amgen Foundation’s “Biotech Summer Experience” workshop. Students, mostly seniors at Santa Clara High School, were exposed to skills of advanced biotechnology including working with DNA and bacteria. Andrea Ocampo, Alyna Zarate and Sabrina Ramirez are shown performing lab testing. The Amgen Biotech Experience is an innovative four-day science education program that provides research-grade equipment, supplies, curriculum, and professional development to middle and high schools. The program features a hands-on molecular biology curriculum designed to introduce students to the excitement of scientific discovery.

Local business owner and nonprofit professional Madhu Bajaj announced that she is running for VUSD School Board, District 4 citing priorities in community engagement, innovative learning and enhanced communication.

“As a mom of a VUSD student and a volunteer with Ventura Education Partnership I have had the great pleasure of working with many of our schools and seeing first-hand the amazing, forward thinking work happening daily,” said Bajaj. “I want to serve as a school board member so we can continue strengthening schools for a more vibrant community where our kids thrive.​”

Retired VUSD School Board Member, Debbie Golden says of Bajaj, “I’m fortunate to have worked closely with Madhu over the last few years. Her fresh, thoughtful and devoted leadership will greatly benefit all children and our community.”

Bajaj devoted her early career to youth and education working for Girls Scouts in San Diego; Camp Laurel, a camp for children living with HIV/AIDS; and a literacy organization that brought teens and preschoolers together to develop a love of reading.

Locally, in addition to owning Fastsigns of Ventura with her husband, she has worked in nonprofit management supporting boards, volunteers and collaborations. She is a skilled listener and communicator with strengths in needs assessment, evaluation, grant writing, building consensus and grassroots fundraising.

“Madhu is passionate about finding creative solutions to enrich our children’s education. We would be lucky to have her serve our community and watch over our kids’ education” says ​Ashley Pope, Business Owner, mother to ​a child with special needs.

Bajaj says, “We have a huge and exciting responsibility to make sure our kids are prepared for their future. I see schools as a source of inspiration where students find their success in life and become engaged members of our community. I will work hard on behalf of all kids.”

For more information on her campaign visit madhubajaj.com.

Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Greg Gillespie is pleased to announce that Dr. Damon Bell has been selected as interim president for Ventura College, effective July 23, 2018. Bell has 25 years of experience that includes Washington and California college systems. He has held senior leadership positions at San Diego Mesa College; Long Beach City College; California State University San Marco; California State University Monterey Bay; and San Francisco State University. Most recently, Dr. Bell has served as Vice President for Student Services and Achievement at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington.

Chancellor Gillespie stated, “We are fortunate to have Dr. Bell joining Ventura College and the District. He is an experienced leader with a proven track record of implementing innovative practices to increase student access and success.”

Bell’s appointment as interim president of Ventura College is the result of the retirement of Interim President Dave Keebler who served for one year as president and nine years as Vice President, Business Services; Keebler also served as Vice Chancellor of Business Services at the District Office during the recruitment of a permanent Vice Chancellor, now a position held by Dr. David El Fattal.

“I am excited about relocating back to California and working with the faculty and staff to continue moving the college forward in service to students. I look forward to being a part of the great things happening at Ventura College,” stated Bell.

Multiple times a month the Ventura Police Department creates community updates and informational videos in the CAPS Media Studio. Hosted by Ashley Bautista, VPD Civic Engagement Specialist, and VPD officers the segments provide the community with important facts, crime statistics and additional valuable information. The segments air and stream on CAPS Media and on multiple social media sites including the Ventura Police Facebook page and numerous Nextdoor sites.

CAPS Media’s Thomas Fire Stories series of extraordinary first-person storytelling continues on July 20 when Clark Tulberg wraps up his emotional experience of defending Thomas Aquinas College and traveling throughout upper Ojai to help friends and family impacted by the fire. On July 27, Ventura County Deputy Fire Chief Vaughn Miller and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Milkovich share their experiences on the night of December 4^th and the days and weeks that followed. And, on August 3 Debbie Brokaw Jackson and ranch manager Jose Alcarez recount the remarkably inspiring story of Jose and his crew fighting to save the Brokaw avocado ranch throughout the Thomas Fire.

Each 20-30 minute Thomas Fire Story repeats throughout the week and can be viewed at any time online at capsmedia.org/videos. Thomas Fire Stories are produced by CAPS Media in collaboration with the Museum of Ventura County and are supported by photos and videos contributed by the public, firefighters and news agencies.

Recently CAPS Media recorded Thomas Fire public meetings held by the Ventura County Resource Management Agency for property owners, in upper Ojai on June 26, and for contractors and designers at the county government center on June 27. The meetings included representatives from Ventura County Building and Safety Department, other County agencies, and the California State Licensing Board. Videos of the meetings will be shown on county websites, contact held by the Ventura County Resource Management Agency for details.

Summer is a great time to join the CAPS Media creative community. No prior experience is required and everyone is invited to join. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura is eligible to become a member as are members of non-profit organizations throughout the county. To learn more about CAPS Media’s extensive television and radio resources and training attend an orientation tour held on the first Thursday of every month. HD videography/camera classes are held on the 2^nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class are on the 3^rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes are on the 4^th week. Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. For more information, go to capsmedia.org or call 805.658.0500.

General Contractor Fred Kummer, of HBE Corp. in St. Louis, has informed CMH that he will finish the 250-bed project in Ventura and turn it over in August, some 3 years after the promised completion date. After that, training on new state-of-the-art equipment and more approvals could take another four 4 months so the hospital could open at the end of this year, or the beginning of next year.

HBE has built over 1,000 hospitals (as designer-builder) and has been paying a $10,000 daily delay penalty. Original estimates were $200 million, but the final cost will be closer to $280 million.

The Ventura Botanical Garden’s held a fundraiser at Dexter’s Camera on July 7. Guests such as Ginny Claborn, Maggie McKinney, Randy Encinas, Doug Halter, Mary Kay Doubek and Jeanne-Marie Olmo enjoyed tacos, wine, music and nature through the lenses of some of our most talented local photographers. Guests also learned how to help the VBG through plant and stone step sponsorship opportunities. The VBG remains closed because of the devastation caused by the Thomas Fire, so all the financial help they can get is great.

Featured photographers included Adam Bartoshesky, Steve Cattanach, Eric Eiser, Randy Encinas, David Gonzales, Dylan Gordon, Dan Holmes, Phil Ranger, Joey Ready, Trent Stevens, and Spencer Westbrook.

Vendors have started to arrive for the Ventura County Fair which opens on August 1.

Sevet Johnson has been named as the Director of the County’s Behavioral Health Department. On the recommendations of the Health Care Agency Director and County Executive Officer, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved her appointment. Johnson will also serve as the Local Mental Health Director. The appointment follows a nationwide recruitment that attracted more than 100 applicants.

Johnson, a licensed psychologist, has 15 years of experience in the mental and behavioral health fields. She has worked for the County’s Behavioral Health Department since 2009. She began her County career as a Senior Psychologist and was then promoted to Clinic Administrator and Senior Behavioral Health Manager.

“This position is critical to the health and safety of our communities”, said CEO Michael Powers. “Behavioral Health promotes recovery, hope and resiliency to Ventura County residents with mental health or substance abuse issues. Sevet’s combination of clinical and administrative experience, her calm, thoughtful and collaborative leadership approach and her passion for the mission and vision for the future of the department make her ideally suited for this important role. Sevet understands the importance of maintaining focus on the clients while staying connected to the families and the community.”

The Director of Behavioral Health reports to the Director of the Health Care Agency and is responsible for the administration of the County’s many Behavioral Health programs and services. These include programs for adults, youth, families and alcohol and drug abuse.

“Sevet will use all of her clinical and managerial skills as she develops, maintains and directs the department’s culturally responsive programs,” said Johnson Gill, Director of the Health Care Agency. “Her position requires broad skills in addition to her clinical expertise. The director needs financial expertise, significant leadership ability and the ability to achieve effective outcomes that are both client-centered and data driven.”

Johnson, 37, is a Moorpark resident and will begin her new duties during June at a salary of $203,887.