by Jennifer Tipton

How long have you lived in Ventura and why did you move here?

Dorrie Aguino
age 58
Retired from an accounting firm
“We moved here after the Northridge earthquake and it’s the best thing that ever happened to us! Ventura is the best town and has good schools too!”

Mike McBain
age 74
CEO – McBain Managerial Accounting
“I moved here in 1977 from Los Angeles because I like it better than L.A… Ventura has the beautiful ocean, the pier, the marina, the hillsides and not too much traffic.”

Kerry Anderson
age 52
Court Reporter turned Homemaker
“It’s been about 31 years since I moved here from New York, because at the time my family was here … apparently, I love it!”

Carol Reeves
age 66
Homemaker
“I’ve lived in Ventura for 35 years, we moved here because of my husband’s work-he’s a civil engineer. It’s beautiful here, we love it! The weather’s perfect and … the house is paid off!”

Jonathan Kennedy
age 37
Horse Trainer
“I’ve lived here 4 years because my wife had a home here (we just got married 2 years ago). I moved from Sacramento and I consider this a nice beach town, it’s not pretentious but very laid back.”

Chris Michaud
age 26
Business owner at Ubreakifix
“I’ve lived in Ventura since 2001, my family moved here because of my dad, he works for Raytheon. I’ve stayed because this is the best place ever-sunniest city .”

by Jennifer Tipton

I asked 6 Ventura resident moms:
What’s your favorite way to spend Mother’s Day?

Joy Matthews
age 67
Homemaker
“With my family, we have nurses, fireman and cops so their schedules are all different and some are out of state. It’s just so nice to get everyone together.”
Joy is mom to 4 children and grandmother to 10

Erin Glynn
age 43
Works at On Duty a local family owned business
“We always go to lunch or dinner together, we’re boring like that because we see each other every day – we work together!”
Erin is mom to 15-year-old Bryce

Jessica Meramble
age 32
Dietician at CMH
“A day at the beach with family, the weather is perfect here and Kennedy loves to play in the sand and dig holes.”
Jessica is mom to 22-month-old Kennedy

Claire Rauley
age 48
Economics teacher at Buena H.S.
“Most likely go to the beach with the kids and either walk on the beach or just hang out. I love the water and sun even more, it’s very calming. It’s my happy place, I can’t imagine moving away from it.”
Claire is the mom of 2 boys and identical twin girls

Julie Robinson
age 59
Physical Therapist with Livingston Memorial
“I like to spend it with my children they made me a mother and as they’re getting older they all have their own lives so it’s great when I get to see them all at the same time.”
Julie is mom to 2 boys and 1 girl

Joyce Weight
age 87
Retired banker
“I like to spend it with all my children and grandchildren going out to eat and relaxing, just having family time together.”
Joyce is mom to 4, grandmother to 7 and great-grandmother to 1

by Jennifer Tipton

What is your favorite season in Ventura?

Colleen Brubaker
age 90
Retired from Ventura County Schools

“Spring because I like green, I’m Irish and I like to see the green hills.”

Della Dowler
age 49
Business owner at The Growing Company

“Spring just because I get to put up pretty flowers.”

Mason Murrieta
age 19
Employee at Vons on Telegraph

“I would say winter because I generally like colder weather better.”

Katie Eckhart
age 29
Ventura College nursing student

“I’d probably say fall because of all the holidays that come with it, and it’s a lot of family time.”

Pete Trevino
age 75
Retired aircraft worker

“My favorite season is all four seasons, I love it here because we have the beautiful sun and some of the best people in the world.”

Stuart Goldman
age 68
Retired Dean of Brooks Institute

“I didn’t know Ventura had seasons, I come from the Midwest where we actually had seasons, here it feels like summer all year long.”

by Jennifer Tipton

What is your favorite free thing to do in Ventura?

Nicole Olgy
age 22
Employee at Alejandro’s Salon
“Honestly, my favorite thing has always been the Ventura Pier and the whole promenade – it’s my happy place.”

Cija Cadiente
age 36
Caregiver
“Hiking at Arroyo Verde Park, we just had all that rain and the flowers are beautiful there!”

Ray Bender
age 61
Business Owner
“I guess I’d have to say going to the beach.”

Penny Allen
age 73
Retired from the travel business
“I like to drive downtown and look at all the lovely antique stores, boutiques and restaurants – I just love to go downtown!”

Ron Dallas
age 73
Retired Engineer
“I like to go along the beach at Surfer’s Point and enjoy the view, the air and the atmosphere.”