SoFLX Living

Meet Chef Kaylenne Brown and Family

Chef Kaylenne Brown moved to Corning from Hampton, VA (one of the seven cities that makes up the Hampton Roads Coastal Community area) in September 2022 with her husband Herbert, their daughter, Leilani, and a cat and a dog named Nightingale and Pepper.

Before Herbert accepted a job offer at Corning Inc., they’d never been to Corning and weren’t sure what to expect. The closest Chef Kay had gotten to the area was when she attended an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Program (EBV) at Cornell University in 2018, run through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and sponsored by Syracuse University. “The EBV Program is a cutting-edge entrepreneurship training program teaching the steps and stages of business creation and business management, with a tailored emphasis on the unique challenges and opportunities associated with being a veteran business owner,” Chef said. At Cornell, she got hands-on training and business information on operating a food business. “Having this knowledge made me feel more comfortable with the move to Corning because I wasn’t that far from Ithaca and had access to the various resources shared with me through the program.” She added, “So we had an open mind about our new adventure, but I think the only thing we knew for sure was that the winters would be VERY cold!”  

Now that they live here, they’re learning more and more each day. They love that there are no traffic jams and that it’s quiet. Chef Kay shared, “We’re still in the process of exploring and are searching for restaurants that have great vegan options.”

One other thing the Brown family enjoyed was the ease of relocation. Chef Kay recalls, “It wasn’t difficult to relocate to the area. We had been on the search for housing, which is always a hit or miss, but we were successful and love where we are now.”

Chef Kay is a vegan chef and community nutritionist. She owns and operates Plant-Based Eatz, LLC, where she plans to offer personal chef services, cooking classes, and catering services. Upon moving to Corning, Chef worked on establishing herself in the community. “The goal is to start catering again and teach vegan cooking classes,” she said, “I’d love to start a food truck/mobile food kitchen serving my dishes. I am working on licensing and setting up a shop in the area..and I am looking for new clients!”

Chef Kay has found that the reception to her business has been very positive. “People are very excited about more plant-forward options in this area. When I tell people that I am a vegan chef, their faces light up with amazement.” She added, “I always get the, ‘I am vegan/vegetarian and would love to support’ or, ‘I have several friends that are vegan, and we would love for you to cater!’ I get really excited talking about my business. I can’t wait to get into the kitchen and start preparing meals again!”

And this further adds to what she sees as one of the area’s advantages. “There is so much room to grow! We can grow our careers, our daughter can hone in on things she loves, and there are lots of opportunities for us to grow as a family.” She stated they were in a very densely populated area and felt stifled because everything was over-saturated. “Coming to Corning is literally a breath of fresh air.”

For anyone relocating to the area, Chef Kay points out, “If they are looking for peace of mind and tranquility, then they’ve chosen the right place.” She added, “I would also tell that person about the opportunities available for them and their families. This area is a hidden gem.”

Thank you, Chef Kaylenne and family, for sharing your story with us! Read more SoFLX stories to learn about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes.

Meet Erin Panosian

Erin Panosian grew up in West Elmira, then moved away after college for about 13 years. Most of that time was spent in Pittsburgh, PA where she started working as a graphic designer. In January 2020 she moved back to West Elmira and works as a full-time graphic designer and freelance photographer. This is her relocation story.

“I moved back for a number of reasons,” Erin explained, “the main being to be closer to family. I love Pittsburgh and am grateful for my time there but it never fully felt like home because my family wasn’t there. My parents and sister live here so I wanted to be closer to them. Also, my sister was starting a family and I wanted to have a relationship with my nephews.”

In addition to being close to family, Erin found herself at a place where she was searching for structure and wanted to plant roots. After living in 11 apartments over the course of 8 years, she was looking for stability. “I wanted a place I could fully unpack and get excited about decor and paint colors,” she said. “A place that felt like I was supposed to be there, a place that was mine, a place that was home.” She found housing to be much more affordable in Elmira, especially in comparison to Pittsburgh, solidifying her confidence in being to afford to buy a house. This was very appealing to her and played a large part in my decision. 

Having grown up in the area, Erin was pretty familiar with it. But she had her concerns nevertheless. “Before I moved I was concerned I would have a hard time adjusting to living in a small town again,” she admitted. “As someone who loves cities I was worried there wouldn’t be enough excitement or things to do in the area.”

But she was excited and ready for a fresh start. “Moving home felt like the end of one chapter and the beginning of another which was bittersweet yet exciting.” 

And now that she is back, she has found herself settling in nicely. “I am very fortunate to still work for the same Pittsburgh-based design firm, Group 2,” she said. “This winter I will have been with the company for 10 years. I was working remotely for the company for a few years prior to moving so when the pandemic hit and people started working from home it was business as usual for me.” 

In addition to working for the Pittsburgh firm, she does freelance design and photography work for various organizations in the area. “After moving back, I reconnected with Sean Lukasik who owns Creagent Marketing in Corning. He has been a huge asset in connecting me with opportunities for freelance work.” She added, “We are currently working on a handful of campaigns for Guthrie which is exciting to be a part of.”

She did, however, find that the hardest part about moving back to the area was the time at which she did so considering she moved back a few weeks before the pandemic hit and everything went into lockdown making the adjustment harder than she anticipated. “I was mourning my old life as I’m sure we all were at the time,” she shared. “It was hard not being able to socialize and I felt as though I didn’t have a community here outside of my immediate family.” That first year she admitted regretting moving back, but in hindsight, she said it was exactly what she needed. “I’ve grown so much over the past couple of years and attribute most of that to the move which forced me to rediscover myself.”

During the pandemic, Erin began abstract painting and it quickly became one of her favorite hobbies. She turned her basement into a studio and spent hours down there. She shared, “I strongly feel I am the greatest version of myself when I am creating in some sense whether it be painting, photography, interior decorating, cooking, or writing. I recently built a website (www.erinpanosian.com) and started marketing my paintings in coffee shops and online in the hopes of selling my art.” Her art continues to be a huge source of inspiration for Erin, “One of my goals for 2023 is to host a gallery evening bringing together family, friends, art, and music.”

Ironically, one of the biggest advantages of living here is also what initially concerned her the most about moving here – adjusting to life in a small town. “I’ve found that being in a smaller area means there is less competition and more opportunity for growth.” She added, “As someone who is trying to establish herself with local clients, being in a less saturated market has benefitted me. In Pittsburgh, I would market myself as a Content Creator to restaurants throughout the city to get freelance work but the opportunities were limited because so many of my peers were doing the same thing. That isn’t the case here and I am very grateful for the opportunities and connections that have come my way over the past couple of years.” 

For Erin, a normal day is a balance between working at her computer or in her studio, getting outside for a bike ride or walk with her dog, followed by dinner with her family or friends. “Since I work remotely and spend a lot of time alone, I try to do something social every day and find that I value my social interactions more.” 

Erin likes to explore the area as much as possible. Since moving back she has developed a love for biking. Her favorite trail is the Black Diamond trail that runs along Cayuga Lake in Ithaca. “In the warmer months, I spend a lot of time in Ithaca. Ithaca has great hiking trails, and a wonderful farmers market on weekends, and Moosewood is one of my favorite restaurants in the area.”

Having grown up here, Erin admits it’s easy to take for granted the unique nature of our surroundings. Moving back reminded her of that and has given her a stronger appreciation for our beautiful part of the country. “Having so many great wineries and beautiful lakes just a short drive away is something special that adds a lot of value and culture to the community. Wineries on Seneca Lake are great weekend activities.” Her favorite view? “The view from Atwater Vineyards at sunset is hard to beat!”

Thank you, Erin, for sharing your story with us!

Learn more about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes and the resources available for those looking for something new.

Meet LaTeka Cooke-Davis

LaTeka Cooke-Davis is a West-Coaster (Riverside, California) who fell in love with a man from Philadelphia, and after a long-distance romance, they married in 2018. One could say that was the first sign that her destiny would be here in the East Coast. This is her relocation story.

It all started when LaTeka’s brother and his family moved to Elmira, NY in 2013 and spoke great things about the area to the family. “I was fortunate enough to visit in the fall of  2016 with my parents,” LaTeka said. “I fell in love with the people here, and the beautiful scenery. We don’t have the pleasure of enjoying all seasons on the West coast. I was fascinated.” LaTeka’s brother would work overtime on convincing LaTeka and her parents to move closer to him. LaTeka recalls, “I would laugh it off, because at the time I did not see how it would happen. I had a great job, newly married, life was great.”

However, as luck would have it the small company where she worked decided to close, and her husband’s work contract ended. Around the same time, LaTeka’s brother was succesful in convincing his parents to move to New York. With so many changes taking place, LaTeka and her husband saw this as a great opportunity and decision to move as well, motivated further by the comfort of being surrounded by both sides of their families. “God has a funny way of reminding us that he’s in control,” LaTeka laughed.

Before her brother’s move to the area, LaTeka had never heard of Elmira, nor had she ever been before her 2016 visit. And while she was excited about her move, she still had concerns.

“I was concerned about not being able to find work in the field that I was in and for the salary that I made,” she admitted. “I was also concerned about there not being enough things to do and see here.” Nevertheless, she remained positive. “What excited me about moving here was the adventure of change. I’ve never lived anywhere else outside of Southern California. I’m a big city girl but the thought of living in Elmira became more and more desirable as I wrestled back and forth with the need for a change.”

“My mother and father owned and operated two soulfood restaurants in the heart of Los Angeles,” LaTeka shared. “They believed in the power of small businesses ownership, as well as the change that can be made in the community by bringing people together.”

Before leaving California, LaTeka started to juice at home and make tonics to help heal herself naturally. She became so interested in it that she shared with her parents that she wanted to open her own juicing company. 

They relocated to Elmira in 2020 with the goal to start her own business. But this dream would be delayed due to the pandemic. “My father urged me to start my company before he passed in October 2020, and in honor of him we launched it at full throttle.”

After getting past the mental block of wondering how she was going to do it, she started feeling things aligning for her.  “Moving to Elmira has been way more affordable than what we were paying (in Southern California),” she said. “We are now paying a fraction of what we were in SoCal.” And she recalls, “I was working so much that I was not able to focus on the serious health issues that I dealt with daily.”

Since relocating, her family has become closer and her profession has changed. “My outlook on life and expectation for the future has switched into an entirely new direction than I first imagined it being.”

LaTeka shared that relocating has also afforded her the opportunity to recieve the healthcare that she desperately needed and could not receive in SoCal due to financial priorities, the overly saturated healthcare system, and virtually no free time to care for herself. “A surgery that I needed for so long and was so hard to obtain living in SoCal, was made possible in such a such a short time after moving here. I felt like my health was made a priority. I felt seen and heard, finally.” 

A normal day for LaTeka starts with having coffee with her mother, seeing her husband off to work, and her nieces and nephew off to school. Then she immediately begins working on marketing and networking for her company The Juice Collective. “I wanted a way to combine all the things I love about home, and was able to create The Juice Collective which offers cold pressed iuices, agua fresca, wellness shots and carefully curated culinary bowls of goodness.”

Depending on the day, she’s in the grocery store or visiting a great farmers market in search of the best fruits and vegetables for her products. Her favorite markets are the Ithaca Farmers Market, Wisner Farmers Market, Montour Falls Farmers’ Market, Pine Valley Farms, and Bradley Farms.

“There is a strong supportive community presence here,” LaTeka said. “I love how the community rallies behind a new business. I also enjoy supporting local eateries such as Turtle Leaf Cafe, Boricana, WMC, and Cheesy Dreams as well as Dos Amigos in Ithaca.” LaTeka really enjoyes visiting Ithaca as, she sys, bits of it reminds her of home. “I love visiting near by waterfalls. The scenery at Harris Hill is gorgeous and the fall season is invigorating here.” 

As a new small business owner LaTeka hasn’t had as much time to explore as much of the Southern Tier as she’d like to, but, she says,”The places I’ve been privileged to visit and the people that I have encountered here makes living here that much sweeter.”

What LaTeka would want people not familiar with the area to know is how many available opportunities there are in Elmira for new homeowners and new business owners. “Elmira is very embracing and welcoming to change.”

She added, “I have come to love a calmer life as apposed to the hectic busy life I lived in California. If you are looking for change, step out on faith to do something different, there are endless possibilities here in the Southern Tier. Don’t be afraid to add your peice to this huge beautiful puzzle.”

“We are excited to be apart of the community here in Elmira and hope that all of our products reach everyone’s heart once experienced.”

Thank you, LaTeka for sharing your story with us!

Learn more about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes and the resources available for those looking for something new.

Meet Dante AcQuavella

Dante Acquavella originally moved to the Southern Finger Lakes from Belmar, New Jersey in 2002 for college. They lived in the Bay Area after graduation but made their way back east in 2012. They just bought their home in Elmira in April of 2022, where they live with their 8-year-old rescue boxer/pit mix, Burrito.

They were drawn to the area after having traveled around the United States quite a bit, but feeling like the Southern Finger Lakes was the only area that has ever truly felt like home.  “I have a group of friends I’ve known for nearly 20 years here,” they said, “which certainly played a large part in my return.” They added, “Also, there is nowhere I’ve ever been that is as beautiful in the fall as the Finger Lakes.”

Because Dante has lived in the area before, they had a preconceived notion of what it would be like to relocate permanently.  “As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I was concerned about how open, accepting, and welcoming the area would be, but, they said, “a lot has changed over the course of the past two decades. Significant progress has been made.” 

There were some other motivating factors as well. Having lived in the Bay Area, New Jersey, and Ithaca, Dante was excited about Elmira’s living costs. “I was able to afford to purchase a beautiful home in a great neighborhood at a fraction of the price I would have spent for the same property elsewhere.”

The experience didn’t come without some challenges, as their house search took place during a very difficult market for buyers. They recall, “I had a few offers rejected or fall through, but it all worked out for the best.”  They found the relocation itself quite easy, “Almost shockingly so,” they noted. “It felt like the universe was telling me I made the correct decision.”

Now that they are here, Dante feels like a real effort is being made to look at the Southern Finger Lakes as a region that is fostering an inspiring sense of community.

But they also recognize that there is more work to do. “I do wish there were more activities that didn’t revolve around alcohol, but that isn’t exclusively a regional issue.” They continued, “As a recovering alcoholic, I would love to see more establishments expand their beverage options to include a non-alcoholic cocktail menu.” They shared that it would be great to have spaces that more embrace the sober community in an area full of wine and beer trails.

Dante moved from the shore town of Beachwood, NJ, and still holds a fierce love, devotion, and loyalty to the great state of New Jersey – so much so that they have it tattooed on their arm — but, they admit, they could tell us a million ways they do not miss sitting in traffic on the Garden State Parkway.  “I miss the pizza and bagels, but certainly not that traffic.”  And they added, “Jersey is very densely populated, and it’s important to me to have space to breathe and not live directly on top of my neighbors.  That wasn’t something that was possible there.”

Today, Dante lends their passion and insight to the community as a Small Business Analyst for Corning Community Engagement at Corning Incorporated. 

They start the day, “stumbling to my coffee pot.” Big Nerd Coffee Company (in Elmira) and Market Street Coffee and Tea (in Corning) are fixtures in their kitchen. And for them, coffee on the back deck is a must. Burrito runs around the yard for a while before they head to the office in Corning. In addition to their morning routine, Dante also really loves their job. “I’m incredibly fortunate that I have a job that I genuinely love and that I get to work with local entrepreneurs in Steuben and Chemung counties as well as collaborate with other community stakeholders.” They added, “I work directly with an extraordinary team of individuals at Corning Community Engagement and the Corning Foundation who want to see this region thrive and flourish. 

Cooking is their hobby, so the evening entails some combination of that, walking Burrito, going to the gym, and reading or watching TV.  They find that at 38, they’ve learned that they enjoy “being boring” and prefers to live a simple life.

But they also enjoy spending time outdoors in nature and walking along the Riverfront Levee Trail in Elmira nearly daily. Other favorite outdoor spots include Tanglewood, Park Station, Sullivanville Dam, Steege Hill Nature Preserve, Personius Woods, and Catharine Valley Trail, just to name a few. Dante also enjoys going to see local art, theatre, and music as well. “There is a strong arts scene here,” they shared, “and I like to support local restaurants as much as possible.” Some of their favorites are Thursday night jazz at Rye Bar and Restaurant on Davis Street in Elmira and the new jazz club and restaurant, WMC North, that opened on West Water Street in Elmira a couple of weeks ago. The Corning Farmer’s Market in Centerway Square on Thursdays and the Sunday Farmer’s Market at Chamberlain Acres in Southport are things they try to attend weekly.

Something Dante feels people don’t know about the Southern Finger Lakes is that this area was very much an active part of the Underground Railroad. The John W. Jones Museum, located on Davis Street, is a hidden gem in Elmira. For a bit of history: Mr. Jones was born into slavery on a plantation in Virginia. Jones escaped when he was 27 and walked about 300 miles from Leesburg, VA, to Elmira. He became an agent of the Underground Railroad in 1851 and by 1860, had aided in the escape of 800 enslaved people to freedom.  In 1859, he became the sexton of Woodlawn Cemetery – where Mark Twain, Ernie Davis, and Hal Roach are famously buried – where he was responsible for the burial of approximately 3000 Confederate soldiers. Mr. Jones remained in Elmira until his death in 1900.  “I would encourage anyone visiting the area to take the time to visit this museum,” Dante recommends, adding, “Talima Aaron, the President of their Board of Trustees, has poured her heart and soul into it and is an incredible resource when it comes to historical knowledge.”

If you are someone considering a move, Dante recommends that you come and spend time in the Southern Finger Lakes in the fall so you can experience it at its best and when they say, the changing leaves, apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn mazes, and harvest festivals really make it feel magical. “I’m not a fan of winter, but I have friends who love cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling and say it makes the winter 100% more palatable.” But, they added, “I’ll take their word for it and sit indoors under the blankets in front of my fireplace.”

Thank you, Dante for sharing your story with us!

Learn more about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes and the resources available for those looking for something new.

Meet Rukundo Kambarami

Rukundo initially moved to Ithaca in 2010 to pursue a graduate degree before moving to Hector and then to the Washington DC area.  

Then Covid hit, making life in a small, big city condo a tad too tight.

She and her husband moved back officially, this time to Watkins Glen, in May of 2021. “I have family in the area so it was a no-brainer, and I had my experience of having lived here previously for several years,” she said.

A slower pace surrounded by family seems like a perfect fit for this self-proclaimed extrovert who loves to bring people together. “I have a rich family history with family all over the world, Rukundo said, “and keeping those ties is something that is important to me.”

Being familiar with the area helped to keep her expectations reasonable, she said. She added, “I love the fact that you can travel a short distance and be in the wilderness with few people around or walk to the park and be on the lake. There is little to no traffic and a great community. Also, it’s more affordable.”

In moving out of the big city, she realized there would be some things she would miss. “Coming back to the area, I knew that I was going to be one of the very few people of color and was dreading where I was going to get my hair done! I also miss the fact that there is no major international airport close by and that your grocery store options are limited. Oh, and brunch–I was spoiled with so many great options in DC. There are a few places here though, my go-to, if I have visitors, is Ryan Willams.” 

But there are some welcomed changes happening which she is also excited about. “There are few new exciting businesses that have opened in town and I have made several new friends.” And while some people might have concerns about the change of pace and options compared to big-city living, Rukundo understands, but says, “There is a surprising amount of things to do in this town, you just have to get involved in the community! Also don’t be afraid to stick out, because you will. It’s a great conversation starter and everyone is super friendly.”

She found the move to the area easy since she has family here and was already familiar with Watkins Glen, though finding the right house for her and her husband took a bit longer than she expected, though, in the end, they did find the right home. She shared, “Housing is more affordable and I’m closer to nature and family. I have also been able to get more involved in the community.”  

Currently, Rukundo works as a consultant for a large consulting firm. on a normal weekday, she will start her day with a cup of hot water and coffee, before logging on for an 8-hour work day. She’ll take a lunch break and maybe go for a walk, or so treat herself to a fancy coffee from the local coffee roaster. At the end of her work day, she’ll either go for a long walk around town or head to the gym.

“We make dinner at home most nights, but will go out and play trivia and have dinner sometimes.” On the weekend she will often do something outdoors, spend time with friends and family, and maybe visit a brewery or winery.  

Her favorite activities, all of which she has access to right near her home, are hiking, boating, and playing trivia. In the summer,  she wants to be outdoors as much time as possible and in the winter she’ll frequent local establishments. Some of the places Rukundo spends time in include Maria’s, El Rancho, Seneca Cheese Co., Lucky Hare Brewing Company, and Solera.

We asked Rukundo what other highlights she can share about living in the area are for her, and she said, “The internet speed is great! And there are more diverse towns only 30 mins away that also have more diverse types of food and grocery stores.”  

Thank you Rukundo for sharing your story with us!

Learn more about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes and the resources available for those looking for something new.