SoFLX Stories Home Row 2

Alex Fresonke moved to Horseheads, NY, with his wife and four children from Florida in 2023.

Born and raised in Florida, Alex attended the University of Central Florida for Construction Engineering and worked professionally in sales, product support, operations, and project management.

“I was interviewing with McWane’s manufacturing facility, Kennedy Valve, in Elmira, NY,” Alex said. He has extended family from Montana and is grateful to have traveled growing up; however, he added, “I had never visited, nor had family travel to the area. The closest I had been before visiting was New York City.” He most frequently traveled to the area when they started searching for homes.

Today, Alex is the Assistant General Manager and Operations Executive at Kennedy Valve in Elmira, NY. “We have an incredible group of team members manufacturing valves and hydrants,” Alex said.

Before moving to the area, Alex assumed it was all about big politics, a conflicted educational system, and over-taxation. “Essentially, all I related to was the 5 mins of the weekly news I would listen to,” he admitted. “Once we had the focused opportunity to learn more about the Southern Finger Lakes and explore the area, we fell in love with its natural beauty.”

The family has particularly enjoyed the winter snow, camping, waterfall hikes, and their new schools,” Alex said, adding, “The seasonal changes were a big factor in our selection to move from Florida, as was an accommodating career growth opportunity.”

Alex and his family’s biggest challenge was rebuilding their community of friends and church. Still, he said, “We had great encouragement and prayers from many, along with a special employer that was incredibly welcoming and accommodating with the move transition.”

Once settled, they focused on rebuilding their weekly routines in a new location with changing seasons. “Adjusting to the shorter daylight time of the year was something to get used to!” However, Alex said, “My two girls would likely say it was us getting a hot tub!”

Despite all the newness that came with the move, Alex and his family’s life is moving pretty smoothly. ” The kids and I are up early for school and work but home much earlier than when I was working in sales and dealer operations, ” Alex said. “Afternoons consist of your typical homework and reading but carry into many outdoor activities, including frisbee golf or pool time.”

When not attending to school, work, and home responsibilities, Alex and his family are making the best of all that Southern Finger Lakes has to offer. “We spend time exploring local wineries, breweries, cafes, and local shops,” he said. “The hiking, waterfalls, and camping experiences have been wonderful! We also continue to serve at church and in the community as we did in Florida. Sometimes, we will drive and pick a spot on the map to check out. It’s been a fun experience when everything is new.”

Alex’s family and friends exploring the cities only a road trip away to SoFLX

For those unfamiliar with New York State but considering a move, Alex said, “Don’t get hung up on the NY News. Take an open-minded trip to explore the areas, and you will find something for everyone to enjoy.” He added, “Look at the proximity and central hub for big cities (New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto) to explore and all the natural amenities in between. Consider taking a leap of faith! The Southern Finger Lakes region makes it easy!”

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

Meet Rashida Vassell, MD

Dr. Rashida Vassell and her family left New York City and relocated to the Southern Finger Lakes in 2016 after being recruited by a local hospital in the area.

Outside of knowing about the existence of Binghamton, Ithaca, and Rochester, the Finger Lakes region was not a place they knew much about. “My husband, a lifelong NYCer, and I imagined we would be dropped in the middle of a cornfield,” she laughed. “We were concerned about the drastic change from urban to rural, including the lack of diversity. What excited us the most was the prospect of green spaces for raising our children and purchasing a home within our budget.”

Nevertheless, relocating was extremely difficult for Rashida and her family. “Moving away from friends, family, and established business – my husband owned and operated a successful restaurant/bakery – was more of a challenge than initially anticipated,” she admitted. “Juggling those responsibilities from a distance in addition to caring for our growing family was anything but easy.”

While some things have remained the same for them, such as the changing seasons, some other things, such as how much they have been embraced by the community, are different from big city culture. “We’ve been given the opportunity to grow and endeavor to live our best lives,” she said.

She added, “Slowly developing relationships with what we now affectionately call ‘the village’ was a godsend. We knew that spending the time to foster meaningful local relationships was going to be our ticket to feeling like we belonged and could thrive.”

And though Rashida admits it hasn’t been smooth sailing by any stretch of the imagination, she has found the cost of living here to be far better than in the beloved city they left behind. “Being able to have open spaces, no traffic congestion – has led to a better quality of life. We were able to make investments in ourselves and our family that otherwise would not be possible.” She continued, “Living here has also allowed us to grow our real estate portfolio. Corning is this hidden gem that has been very good to us personally and professionally.”

Today, Dr. Vassell is the Founder and owner of Safahla Medical, a concierge medical practice with a focus on skincare, lifestyle medicine, and cutaneous surgery located in Corning, NY.

Together with her husband they own vacation rental properties in the Corning area.

An average day for the family includes getting up early to exercise before getting their girls, ages 10 and 7, up and ready for school. “I usually do drop-offs and my husband and I then take on the day to attend to our careers and businesses,” Rashida said. “School pick-up and extracurricular activities are usually done by my husband. We close out our evenings with homework and dinner.”

The family also enjoys spending time outdoors as the weather allows, hiking nature trails, and having dinner on their neighborhood’s main street. “In the summers we enjoy exploring lake life and apple picking is a must in the fall. We enjoy having gatherings with friends at each other’s homes. We have come to love activities on the lake. Throughout the year we will stay at a lake house one weekend at a time. It’s an entirely new experience for our family and something we love sharing with our daughters.”

For those who might be thinking of relocating to the area, Rashida stated. “If you are ready for a change of pace, looking to make a 180 lifestyle change, raise a family, have a better cost of living, and have an open mind, look no further.” She added, “Winters are hard, but the other three seasons make it so worth it. Do not expect the Finger Lakes to be comparable to living in a major metropolitan area, it is not. But the region has its own appeal and for the right family, at the right inflection point in their life, it can afford them a lifestyle they could never have imagined.”

She concluded by saying, “Visit at any point during the spring, summer, or fall and you’ll see what makes this area so compelling: its connection to nature. The natural wonder of the Finger Lakes area isn’t something that has to be sought or driven to, it’s all-encompassing. We as a family have come to appreciate just how valuable that is.”

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

Meet Kara Collins

Kara Collins grew up in the Elmira, NY area but moved away in her 20s to New York City. But she never lost sight of how beautiful, friendly, and affordable the Southern Tier is.

Despite this, like many before her, when considering her return Kara worried that the area would be too slow-paced after living in NYC. She was also concerned about finding a job in the creative field. She now works in Marketing Communications at Corning Inc.

In moving back, Kara was excited to see her family again and friends she’d lost touch with over the years. “I was looking forward to having more space to have a dog and a backyard,” she said. “It’s the little things that matter when you grow older!”

Luckily relocating was not difficult for her as her family was here. “They are so supportive and involved in my life,” she said. She was further comforted by the community. “People are so friendly here and you get a real sense of community. Also, it is a great place to raise a family.”

One other advantage Kara has felt since moving out of NYC and living in the Southern Finger Lakes is the quality of life. “I have been able to buy a home and appreciate that everything is so convenient,” she shared. “After commuting 1.5 hours each way every day and taking multiple trains/subways, I often would arrive home after 8 pm and exhausted. You can get to most places here in 20 minutes or less!”

Kara spends most of her weekdays dropping my daughter off at school and going to work. “I’ve been lucky enough recently to begin working remotely so my work-life balance has improved even more. My husband works in construction and has projects in different locations throughout the area but still can be home for dinner by 5 pm.” She continued, “We live right around the corner from a school and a recreational area so that is a great resource for our family. I live just around the corner from where I grew up so I’m so glad I can share my childhood memories with my daughter. Also, the sidewalks are nicely kept so I can easily walk my dog and we’ve joined a great community of neighbors who are always looking out for each other.”

When not on a weekday schedule, Kara and her family tend to stay local and spend time with friends and family.

Her daughter loves art and animals so they will often take part in the activities hosted at Community Arts of Elmira or Tanglewood Nature Center. With the Finger Lakes nearby, they often visit friends in the summer and enjoy boat rides on Seneca or Keuka Lake.

For anyone looking to relocate to the area, Kara says, “There are so many treasures in the area, and it’s important to take advantage of the various tourist sites. They provide information on the events that are going on throughout the year and suggestions on what small businesses to explore.”

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