relocation story

---

This is SoFLX

Meet Meagan Miller

Meagan Miller is a classical soprano and voice teacher, nature-lover, and all-around arts and food enthusiast who grew up in the Midwest and East Coast of the U.S. 

She is a Juilliard-trained soprano who has recorded CDs of Beethoven, Bruckner, Libby Larsen, and Strauss, and her most recent recording, the title role in the world premiere uncut recording of Cesar Franck’s Hulda. She is a passionate advocate for the next generation and avocational artists.

She and her Albanian-Austrian husband Dino, along with Andalusia, 8, Orion, 7, and Apollon, 19 moved from Vienna, Austria in late October of 2021. The family currently lives just outside of Watkins Glen, in Rock Stream, NY with their two cats, and 17 chickens.



“We were looking for a homestead lifestyle in an area where we could also be connected to culture and community,” Meagan said, adding, “It’s how my husband grew up, and we wanted it for our kids, too.”

Meagan had visited Watkins Glen about 15 years before. She stayed and volunteered at the Farm Sanctuary and hiked the Gorge Trail. Her parents also went wine tasting in the Finger Lakes early in their marriage, boated on Seneca Lake, and saw a race in Watkins Glen International. Through their descriptions, those trips became memorable for Meagan and her whole family. 

And she was excited about all the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes, and the added space for her family. “In large cities, for better or for worse, there is anonymity: your small actions each day aren’t noticed, and don’t have much of an effect on your community. Here, the opposite is true. In a small community, we’re all in this together on a totally different level,” Meagan said. “It makes a difference where I have my kid’s birthday party or buy a cake, or where I take my visiting friends out to eat. Here there is absolutely everything you could want – really that’s true – but instead of there being many choices, there may be just one option, so you need to plan ahead, cherish what is here, and not burn your bridges.”

Soon after her move, Meagan would come to experience the unity of a smaller community in a way that few do.

“About six weeks after moving here, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Up until then, I had been very blessed with good health,” Meagan said. “My immediate thought was that we needed to move back to Vienna, where we would be covered by their universal health care system. We had not focused on the health care system much in choosing our home and I panicked by how little I knew about medical care here. I was worried that I would not be able to get treatment close to home, that I might need to consult doctors in bigger cities to get the most current information, and maybe would face restrictions and long delays.”

Meagan’s biopsy was scheduled at Schuyler Hospital for December 23, 2021. Despite Meagan’s concerns about long waits and delays, she said the staff expedited the process, sparing her the anxiety of not knowing the results over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

She was most impressed with the level of care. “On December 27, my wonderful surgeon Tran Tu Huynh video called me while visiting her family in California to discuss the details of my diagnosis and the current research about my treatment options,” Meagan shared. “My first appointment with my medical oncologist, Timothy Bael was on January 3rd, followed by my first chemotherapy treatment on January 11. Schuyler Hospital and the Cayuga Medical Center planned to work together to allow me to receive my care close by. My case was discussed at least weekly by my entire team, nurse navigators were calling me to see if I had questions – in short, I was astonished by the speed and attention each cancer patient received. I knew at that point that everything was going to be fine. And it was going to be fine right here.”

It has been almost a year of active treatment for Meagan. “I lost my hair (which has grown back to shoulder length now) and my kids and husband helped me shave my head when it was time,” she said. “I had wonderful advice and support from many, near and far, to help me. I had dear friends come and help during tougher points in my care. I alerted the school to support my then 5 and 6-year-olds and to offer them grace if they needed it, My amazing husband picked up every bit of slack and watched Outlander and Downton Abbey with me on the days when I needed just that.”

Meagan said her chemo treatment worked better than anyone expected, and during the month break after chemo and before her surgery, she was able to put on a long wavy red wig and sing the soprano solos in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) with the Houston Symphony. Then came radiation and now at least five years of medications to keep her free of cancer.

“I am still in physical therapy to rebalance and rebuild after surgery. I am singing, and finding the new twists and turns in my voice. I am teaching many wonderful students, and I have a new interest in helping rehabilitate voices after illness, pregnancy, or other life changes.” Medications make me tired, but I am here and doing much better than I could have expected.”

Meagan’s medical journey and experience here in the Southern Finger Lakes influenced other family decisions. “My 84-year-old father is coming this spring to live with us on our homestead,” she said, adding, “I can confidently say that as he ages, and if he is ever in need of medical care, he will be in good hands in this area!” She found that contrary to her initial concerns, the lower population density served as an advantage “because long waiting times are simply not a thing and “within easy driving distance, any medical care I could need, and he would need, is available at the highest level.”

Nevertheless, she says, there is room for improvement. “Dental Care and Veterinary Care is much more complicated in this area – and it depends very much on your insurance. Many practitioners simply are not accepting new patients. These areas of care will require focus, money, and attention to detail.”

As far as settling into the community as a whole, a lot has happened for Meagan and her family. Some challenges they’ve experienced have been associated with language as their oldest and her husband are still working to perfect their English. Also, Meagan said, applying for their Green Cards was especially hard during the pandemic. “Thankfully, that is all resolved now,” Meagan said, “so, full speed ahead: my husband is now able to start his masonry and mosaics business and my stepson is working on his driver’s license. (Many Europeans living in a city would never need to drive, but here he will need to.)”

And Meagan continues to flourish in her career as a classical singer. “In May, I’ll travel to Helsinki, Finland to sing the 1st Soprano in Mahler’s Eighth Symphony. It’s a familiar and beloved piece for me, so I hope to enjoy it as a return to the stage.”

Today, a normal day for Meagan and her family starts at 6:30 in the morning. “My favorite thing of the day is checking out the sunrise from our window or the porch as we prep the kids for school, and gazing at the lake on the drive to school. Dino heads out to the chicken coop with dinner scraps and feed and then moves on to repairs in the house, the hoop houses, or a stone or mosaic project,” Meagan said.

“I am usually in my studio early to answer emails or research for a student, vocalizing a bit before my first teaching appointment. The time difference with Europe keeps me busy in the mornings.”

Meagan said the single best thing she ever did was buy an Empire Pass as they love kayaking, especially on Seneca Lake, hiking the Gorge in Watkins, and heading to Taughannock Falls where she says they have great cabins for overnight, or Letchworth State Park. Summer for them is mostly spent at the Watkins Glen State Park swimming pool. “We also love to visit Havana Glen for picnics and the Sugar Hill Forest for snowmobiling.”

They also often go to Clute Park in Watkins Glen for swimming, ice skating, and the splash park – and of course 4th of July fireworks!! They frequent the Glen Theater for movies and other family events, as well as Tabora Farms for their Viennese Sacher Torte, Scuteri’s for cannoli, Jerlando’s for take-out pizza, and P’s Macaron’s at the Burdett Exchange. “Farther afield, I am a true fan of Moosewood in Ithaca, Casa Mezcal in Penn Yan, and Beijing Garden in Elmira. “We have had memorable concert and theater experiences at Opera Ithaca, Dream Barn Productions, the Clemens Center, and 171 Cedar Arts.

For those considering a move to the Southern Finger Lakes, Meagan says, “Take the plunge! I cannot claim to know what long-time residents here know, but I can say that there is a lot of room, a lot of warmth, and that each person I’ve met so far has a surprising story to share. Take the time to get to know which areas interest you in the region. Some things may take extra planning, but the quiet, nature, and relaxed atmosphere are worth it.”

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

---

This is SoFLX

Meet Millicent Ruffin

Here at Southern Finger Lakes Living we love hearing all the stories from our new neighbors and residents of the area. We are always listening for interesting stories and voices that impact the community in positive ways and inspire us all to be not only better citizens in our community but also of the world.

In this newest feature, we didn’t just want to share a relocation story. We wanted to feature a woman who relocated to the area and whose voice, compassion, and insights are highlighting important topics that influence our communities, and our daily lives; make us pause, and educate and inspire us.

Millicent relocated to Corning, NY in 2001 with her then fiancé, and now husband, Boh Ruffin, both of whom were hired by Corning Incorporated. “We were really excited to be starting and, in my case, continuing, our careers at a premiere corporate research hub,” Millicent said. “I was honestly, quite apprehensive about small-town life. I had been living in central New Jersey for the previous 2 years, so it was a significant culture shift for me.” She added, “I think the biggest transition was access to large cities. Living in Plainsboro, NJ I had easy access to New York City and Philadelphia and the option of public transportation. So initially the move felt like a bit of a loss.” However, she soon realized that moving to the area in June turned out to be perfect timing and they spent the summer mountain biking, kayaking, and white-water rafting. “The access to outdoor activities that we love made the transition easier.”

Millicent started her career at Corning as a scientist and continued on the technical track for 20 years. As a program manager, she led teams to develop products and processes for several of Corning’s businesses. “Easily, my favorite role was leading the Corning Advanced Technology Center in Taipei, Taiwan.” Millicent recalls how at the time, the lab had only been open a few years, and the team was excited about helping customers and solving problems.

In 2020, Millicent moved into the Law Department and helped create the Office of Racial Equality and Social Unity (ORESU). From 2020 to 2023 she led the Community Affairs department for the office and at the end of 2023, Corning merged all philanthropic and economic development activity into one new department, Community Impact and Investment. Millicent was appointed senior director of that department in December 2023.

During her time as leader of ORESU, in early 2020, Millicent created a student group called Finger Lakes Youth Forum and they released a podcast called Amplify Voices. The students would meet and talk about equity-related topics that were relevant to them.

In 2021, Millicent started working with Sissy Siero, the Founder and CEO of Texas-based Siero Media, a creative agency that produces and delivers communications through storytelling via podcasts. At the time, Sissy had been working primarily as an internal messaging producer, creating various podcasts for Corning employees. “In 2022, several efforts were underway to advance diversity in education, including the importance of increasing the number of teachers of color in the classroom,” Millicent said.

Sissy added, “This show was predicated upon the urgent need for local young adults in the Corning area to find connection, to share and truly have a voice. So much of their lives had been turned upside down. Especially during the early days of the pandemic; disenfranchised, upset, and worried about the uncertainties of the world and their futures.”

“We decided the podcast was a great vehicle to share how companies can help schools and communities accomplish important social initiatives,” Millicent said. “We started working with students, then we focused on our education workstreams. In our most recent 2023 season, we expanded to tell stories that of course are aligned with our work at Corning but are also important for our listeners and our communities to hear.”

Although the podcast is no longer a student-led project, Millicent says that many of the goals remain the same even two years later. “The goal of the podcast, now Vital Voices, will always be to highlight voices in our communities that may not otherwise be heard.”

Sissy added, “They’re based on basic human equity and equality. Equal access to education and health services, healthy food sources, and financial resources.”
Millicent said that what has surprised her the most is how often listeners will reach out and share something that resonates with them. She added, “Sometimes it’s a, ‘I wish I knew…’ other times, it’s ‘I went through the same’ but always it ends with ‘thank you for making sure these stories get told.'”

The project is an impactful one, not just for the listeners, but for the hosts as well. “I’ve struggled so much with being an integral part of this storytelling,” Sissy said, “Struggled because I’m a white woman; raised middle class with all of the inherent privilege; how dare I tell these stories also.” But she added, “I’ve had to forgive myself for not being able to experientially understand what it means to be BIPOC in this county living that day-to-day. I identify as a member of the LGBTQ community and so have experienced struggles growing up and have faced at times humiliating prejudices. I tend to minimize that now because I’m so far from the scared young woman who was always different. Even while living through the worst of those times, I still enjoyed white privilege – let’s be honest.”

This vulnerability and honesty, however, is one of the reasons we love the podcast, and why we think it resonates so well with listeners. We had to wonder, in what other ways does the work impact the hosts, especially Millicent who works in the community where so many of these stories are focused, and in the company funding the project.

“Working on this podcast builds a stronger connection to both the company and the community,” Millicent said. “It requires a certain amount of vulnerability and as I have shared stories from my personal life on the podcast, it has been met with open arms. Even though we deal with difficult topics, we always manage to find and focus on the beauty in the work.” She added, “Doing this work has connected me to like-minded people working toward positive change, and it is very inspiring.”
“My love and respect for Millicent and this show runs very deep,” Sissy said. “I’ve grown as a person producing this project and co-hosting it with her, and I am so very grateful to have this opportunity.”

“I hope everyone finds something in the podcast that is for them,” Millicent said, “whether it is inspiration to explore a new area or tips on how to advocate for themselves and others. Ultimately, we’d like them to be so interested they call us up and say, ‘hey we’d like to partner with you on this!’”

When not delving into the tough, heart-wrenching topics and hard conversations, Millicent enjoys running and working out, a passion she shares with her boys. “When we are not at track meets with our boys, I spend my free time on my personal fitness goals. Julie Koski (a retired Corning Incorporated project manager) and I are long-time running buddies and we are either running through Houghton Plot in Corning or along one of the local trails, such as Catherine Valley Trail or Pine Creek Trail.” Her favorite race? “Wineglass Race Marathon, of course!” When not on the trail Millicent’s favorite way to decompress after work is with a bowl of garlic and rosemary popcorn at The Cellar.

Over the years, Millicent’s initial apprehension towards small-town living has faded. “I didn’t think we would make friends and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” she said. “When you live in a small town, you get to know people in a way that you don’t have the opportunity to in larger cities. I remember one evening my then-infant son was sick with an ear infection and by the time we finished at the pediatrician’s office, the pharmacy was closed. Karen Hogue, the owner of the pharmacy at the time, opened the shop, filled the prescription, and delivered it to my home. How’s that for community!”

Millicent recognizes that every community has its challenges and gems and that there is opportunity in both. “Communities can’t grow unless people with different perspectives are willing to share. Growth happens in the discourse, but only when we listen to one another with the intent to understand,” she said. And for those looking to build community, she advises, “Be willing to share a little of yourself. It may feel uncomfortable at first, especially when you are a minority, but that’s when you start to find commonalities.”

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