Elena Brokaw has devoted her career to creating stronger communities.

Elena Brokaw earned her bachelor’s degree in art history at Harvard University. She has worked extensively as a cultural consultant for communities as well as organizations. As a lead consultant for the firm Jerry Allen and Associates, she completed cultural plans for the cities of Reno, Nevada, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Capitola, California. She has also facilitated public art planning processes for San Diego, California, Reno, and Minneapolis.

In her professional career, she has served as fundraising and development director for multiple organizations including the American Film Institute, was the director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Ventura, California for over a decade, and currently serves as The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director at the Museum of Ventura County.

Elena has served on many regional boards, including Women’s Economic Ventures, Ventura County Social Justice Fund, and the Ventura College Community Foundation. She is a member of the Harvard Selection Committee and is on the faculty of the Cal Lutheran University Center for Nonprofit Leadership, providing instruction in organizational development and leadership.

Island Packers to continue service to the islands. Photo by Kevon Bailey

The National Park Service (NPS) announced today a 10-year concession contract award to Island Packers to provide year-round boat transportation service from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbara Island within Channel Islands National Park.

Island Packers is a new company that will be formed from the merger of the current concession, Island Packers Corporation and Superboat Incorporated. The Island Packers Corporation has held the current concession contract since 2011. The new contract will begin on January 1, 2024.

“We are pleased to announce that Island Packers will continue to provide transportation services for park visitors to Channel Islands National Park,” said Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “Island Packers has provided excellent service to the public for over 50 years, and we look forward to another decade of safe and enjoyable visitor access to Channel Islands National Park.”

The new contract will usher in service and sustainability improvements for the concession operation. Visitors will have access to a greater variety of convenience items for sale onboard the vessels, including hats, sunscreen, lip balm, water, and pre-packaged food items, and will have the option to purchase a pre-made boxed lunch when purchasing their boat transportation ticket in advance. Under the new contract, the concessioner will be making several environmentally sustainable upgrades to vessels, including conversion of the fleet to diesel/electric hybrid transmissions with solar charged batteries.

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube

Ivor Davis with John Lennon

by Ivor Davis

Visiting Cuba has been on my bucket list for all my life and thanks to Ventura  College retired Professor Bill Hendricks—I finally—accompanied by a group of Ventura’s notable local yokels—we recently made it to that beleaguered Caribbean country.

So let me keep it short and sweet:  Twas a  memorable, eye-opener visiting this country of absolute contradictions. And ineffable charm. Don’t forget Cuba is a mere hop skip and jump from America–90 miles from Key West!

Along for the journey were California Appeals court Justice Steven Perren, Long time locals Clark, Diane and Grey Hubbard, as well as Scott Williams, who packed a bagful of baseball balls to give-away to delighted kids on the street. Real estate broker Karen Hoffberg who merrily danced on the streets of Havana and assorted Ventura College students who somehow managed to spend eight days in Cuba without sleep! For them it was a “Hard Day’s Night!”

Apologies for not mentioning some of the other local dignitaries who cha-chaad their way through Cuba—but all that rum and the cigars and late night carousing has dimmed my memory.

But what remains vivid and memorable is this:

A visit to the John Lennon Park in Havana—where a bronze statue of the late Beatle sprawls for all to see.  I have had a passing acquaintance  with Mr. Lennon so I was happy to learn the story about John—told to me by Fidel’s personal photographer Roberto Chile–and why it was the Liverpool Lennon—and not the Leningrad Vladimir Lenin—who was such a tourist attraction in Cuba.

First John and the Beatles music was banned by Fidel as being part of the cliched “corrupt Western decadence.” Then when Lennon went to war with the Nixon regime during the peak of the anti-Vietnam War movement, Fidel suddenly recognized him as a fellow revolutionary.

And thus in December 2000,  a park was born with Fidel unveiling the bronze as,  “All You Need Is Love” blared over loudspeakers.

For me the highlights included the fabulous food, visiting Havana’s main synagogue which was generously unlocked for me, and where I noted that Steven Spielberg also got a personal tour a few years ago.

Biggest surprise: I went to the Cuban government cigar factory and shop—and much to my chagrin (would you believe)  they refused to take their own Cuban currency! Dollars, Si. But sorry no credit cards!

For a nation under duress, the Cubans were warm and welcoming.

Particularly after we all  unloaded suitcases laden with band-aids, clothes, toothpaste and children’s clothing at the local church. And baseballs–of course!

The food was fabulous, the internet was non existent–and our tour guide Alex was top notch with a great sense of humor.

Bill Hendricks is planning another “cultural trip” to Cuba later this year.

Go if you can. It’s something you will never forget.  And maybe the Breeze will publish your adventures!!

Liam takes part in many Go-Karting events around the country. Photos by Evan Brown photography and Patricia Schallert

by Patricia Schallert

Go-Karting is a motorsport that is enjoyed by people of all ages, but it is especially great for kids who are interested in racing. Young people can start competing in Go-Karting competitions at a young age because the sport has a low barrier to entry and has less regulations than traditional car racing.

When you look at some of the biggest names in Formula 1 racing, many of them started their motorsport career racing Go-Karts. Many of them still love to Kart and attribute their success on the racing circuit to Go-Karting.

Liam Jones, a 15-year-old sophomore at Ventura High School who runs in track and field events, was introduced to go karting because of his grandfather’s interest in NASCAR and Formula 1 car race events.

Seeing this interest, his grandparents bought him a “Shifter Go-Kart” when he was 13, he began training and has been racing ever since.

 Now he takes part in many Go-Karting events around the country with great success. Currently he is racing two times a month.

His championships include:

2021 Los Angeles karting championship Pro Shifter 2 – 3rd place in championship 1 win, 2 Podiums in Fontana.

2022 Los Angeles karting championship Pro Shifter- 3rd in championship,

1 Win, 3 podiums also Fontana,

Ranked #25 nationally out of 212 drivers

4th in the 2022 Skusa PKC, with 1 podium

2022 was his first season in the Top tier Pro class

Reflecting on his racing goals, Liam eventually wants to race cars and compete in NASCAR and Formula 1 racing.

When not physically working on his go kart, he uses realistic, simulated experiences on his computer that translates directly into concrete instruction, with time measured results. Many professional drivers use this program to improve their skills and stay competitive. Liam reports it is very fun and instructive.

Liam’s Go- Kart career began with shifting, understanding the use of the throttle, the sound of the engine when shifting happens, and to use both feet when he drives. Liam’s most important skill that he had to learn was to stay focused in the simulations and in real racing events.

Even though Liam is still in school, he continues to work on his basic Go-Kart skills. With his coach and support team in Fontana, he is learning everything about his go kart, including how to recognize and fix it when there is a problem and build it, so it is most efficient when he’s racing. He learns from other racers and uses his own successes and failures from his personal racing experiences.

Liam also learned rudiments of racing at a young age by going to Jim Hall’s racetrack when it was in Ventura at the Fairgrounds. He learned to race on rented go- karts until his grandparents bought him the “Shifter” The Shifter is manufactured in Riverside and has a TM KZ R1-125 cc engine that hits speed of 50 on the raceway and can go over 100 mph.

The Shifter Go- Kart made by “Factory” is from Riverside and they specialize in Go-Kart designs for each individual driver. “Factory Karts”, are a team of passionate and professional people whose goal is to bring karting to the mainstream sports market. They are also Liam’s support team when he is in Fontana.

Shifters are some of the best Go- Karts to drive according to Liam and a great way to prepare young drivers for professional race car driving. Liam’s support “Shifter team” help him keep his Go Kart in top shape. He’s raced in New Orleans, Utah, and California.

With professional Go-Kart racing, there is a weight restriction as there is in professional car racing. The weight needs to be no more than 390 pounds and after each race, Liam and his Go Kart are weighted together. Liam keeps his weight in check by running track and cross-country events at Ventura High School.

A new Go Kart track is being built in Winchester, CA. Liam says the best kind of Go-Kart track incorporates every element a driver could want with blind crests, dramatic downhill elevations, sweeping-flowing corners built into the side of a double-mountain peak and a blend of slow, medium, and incredibly high-speed corners that will produce many overtaking opportunities. The result is a track with the look and feel of a small Formula 1 circuit.

Race season is from March to November.