southern finger lakes

Meet The Weber Family

The Weber family – Margareta, Dennis, and their daughter Emma, moved to Corning’s Market St. from Germany, close to Frankfurt, on August 12, 2021.

Dennis was hired by Corning Inc. in Germany in 2019. He visited the area once in 2019, stayed for two weeks, and told Margareta how beautiful the little town is. In early 2021, they were offered to temporarily relocate to Corning as expatriates, where Dennis works as a Sustainability Communications Manager. “That was exciting; we did not have to think about it very long and decided we wanted to come to Corning,” Dennis recalls.

Dennis loved the area clearly, but Margareta and Emma had never been, and Dennis was concerned about whether they would like it. “As a family, we can only be as happy as our daughter Emma,” Dennis said, “so Emma’s well-being was our greatest concern.” They wondered about all the things parents of a young child would be worried about: Would she adapt to the new situation? Would she quickly pick up English as a second language? The pandemic was still ongoing; everybody wore masks. Would that keep Emma from learning English?

When they agreed to come to Corning, they understood that Margareta would not be allowed to work due to visa regulations. As an energetic doer, they wondered how she would cope with the new situation. “That is why we chose Market Street over a country residence,” Margareta said, “to stay close to where Dennis works, so we can have lunch together and tackle any upcoming issues without delay.”

All concerns aside, they were excited to come to the United States. They had visited the States multiple times, and Dennis had spent years here. “We were excited to see New York City again and Niagara Falls. But most of all, we were excited to live in America and not be limited to, let’s say, two weeks of vacation. We wanted to travel and explore.”

Since their move, they say so many positive changes have happened. “We love it here in Corning. All worries about how we would adapt are gone,” they said, adding, “The duration of our stay was extended from one year to three years. We are very happy about that extension, as there is still much to explore.”
Margareta was granted eligibility to work, exciting news as that was a missing piece to what they consider their family’s luck. She now works at the Heathered Grey boutique on Market Street and is very engaged in sharing and promoting the family’s Corning experience on Instagram.

Emma is thriving in what the Webers describe as Corning’s extraordinary educational institution. “ItsyBitsy Inspirations on Sunset Drive granted the best possible start for Emma’s American journey,” Margareta said. “She picked up English and reached the level of US-born children her age fascinatingly quickly.” Now Emma is in Kindergarten at Carder Elementary, and her parents say her happiness with her school is mirrored in her daily excitement to learn and looking forward to the next day of school. “From our perspective as parents, Emma’s integration could not have gone any better.”

“After a while, when we started to visit places the second or third time, we realized that we had arrived as residents,” Dennis said, adding, “Corning now has a calming certainty about it as our home.”

The Webers cannot say they had tough challenges to manage upon their arrival, partly because of the tremendous support from Corning Inc.’s global mobility team. “Due to COVID, we couldn’t visit to see and decide about our housing options,” Dennis said, “and the visa process was certainly more challenging during the pandemic.” But once they were here, Dennis describes that the professional support and the warm-hearted, open arms of Corning’s people helped them settle in and feel good. “Believe it or not, Corning has a German community of maybe a dozen families. Our fellow Germans made and still make our Corning experience more pleasant!”

The family has found that Corning is safe, offers excellent education, and has a remarkable portfolio of activities and events, especially given its size. “People are friendly and willing to help,” Margareta said, “Living on Market Street allows us to be in the middle of most of Corning’s excitements.” She added, “We love the YMCA with all its opportunities. We enjoy high school sports and theater plays and love how Americans make culture, sports, and events easily accessible.”

They also feel a comparison seems unfair since they left their German home during COVID. “We had a great life in Germany; nothing is better or worse there, only different.”

During the week, their daily routines differ little from other families – work, school, afternoon and evening courses, and story time. During the weekends or holidays, they are known to be extraordinarily active explorers. “Emma has seen 17(!) states since we arrived. We have visited NYC four times, Niagara three times, Washington D.C., Boston, and Charlotte each twice, Buffalo, and Rochester. We spent a week each in Florida and Kentucky.”

But they equally enjoy a stroll on Market Street, preferably during one of the beautiful events, which is always appreciated. Centerway Bridge and its painted maze is a favorite spot in town.

Other favorites for them are the drives to Watkins Glen, Ithaca, Wellsboro, the PA Grand Canyon, and the many lakes. “We love Keuka Lake State Park, hiking the Glen, or visiting Harris Hill. We take our boat to Lake Cowanesque, Hammond Lake, or Keuka Lake.”

Dennis loves American football and visits CPP High games and the magic Penn State games at Beaver Stadium. No stadium in Germany can hold 110,000 spectators. Dennis also started hunting and takes Emma fishing.

For those considering relocating to the area, the Webers invite folks to come and see how special Corning is. “Those who visited us do not need further convincing.”

They added that the portfolio of activities, events, and institutions exceeded their expectations. “No need to worry about any small country town’s danger of boredom.”

They also agree that Corning is an excellent place to raise kids. “The town is safe. We have no concerns when walking Market Street at any time of day or night. Our daughter is thriving in an excellent school. Currently, the teacher-student ratio in Emma’s class is 1-16. The town is taken care of. Parks, roads, buildings, and facilities are in good shape. Corning has not suffered the consequences of an economic downturn.”

They added, “We love Corning and its extraordinary offer to our young family. Come and see. The advantages are obvious once you are here!”

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

Meet Meg Hopkins

Meg Hopkins, a Penn Yan native, grew up playing lacrosse, which in Penn Yan is a big deal. The sport provided Meg the opportunity to attend the University of Vermont in Burlington and, she says, really launched her to where she is today. 

“After college graduation and a summer road trip around the US, I moved to Nashville, TN in the beginning of 2016,” she said. “Here is where I jump-started my career in marketing obtaining a  position with the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce and Office of Economic  Development. After one year, I was managing the Marketing Department on my own.”

Even though Meg was loving her career, something was still missing. After spending the weekend at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival with her partner, Eddie Rivera, they decided they both needed to travel. So, in July 2019, they sold everything they owned in Nashville and bought one-way tickets to Koh Samui Island in Thailand.  

“At the beginning of February 2020, Eddie and I found ourselves in Split, Croatia. As we all know now, this is when the pandemic started to really hit Europe.” She added, “Thankfully, Eddie, being a retired Army Veteran, already had a plan to get us back to the United States.”  

With just their backpacks and the clothes on their backs, they landed back in the States in the middle of February 2020. They stayed in Florida for about two months and then decided to come back up to the Finger Lakes and stay with Meg’s family.

This move would prove to be longer term than they originally thought. “Being a native to the Finger Lakes and with a worldwide pandemic going on, Eddie and I decided to lay low and head back to Penn Yan safely in April 2020,” she said. “It was one of the best decisions that we made!” 

Ultimately, they decided to stay in the Finger Lakes and purchase their home in Geneva.  

For Meg, having grown up in the Finger Lakes her whole life, she was nervous about the opportunities available. Upon returning to the States, she reached out to Nashville, TN business owner, and asked if he was looking to hire someone remotely. “Thankfully he was!” 

Nevertheless, Meg was nervous that if she didn’t find something remote, or based out of a larger city, that she wouldn’t have had another opportunity like it in Upstate New York. However, after being back for 3 years, she sees that that is not the case. She shared, “There are tons of opportunities for young professionals.”  

Meg found that the small-town feel that she grew up with remains the same, adding, “Having had so many new experiences and traveled extensively, I can tell you that that feeling is unmatched by most.  Growing up I always thought of it as a hindrance – a hindrance to my growth, a hindrance to becoming me – but now I see it as a positive.” 

She now describes the small-town feel as warm and welcoming and finds that it has evolved much in the last ten years. “The growth that we’re seeing is intentional and that’s truly important to this area,” Meg said. “Having worked for an Office of Economic Development in the richest county of Tennessee,  I’ve seen how growth can be overwhelming to its locals. However, here in the Finger Lakes,  we’re seeing the kind of growth that works for all of its citizens, not just some. Small businesses are coming back and thriving. Larger companies are calling this place home and revamping their work culture to fit what’s most important to the people they hire.”  

At first though, she said it was difficult coming back to the States, let alone the Finger Lakes area. But, after seeing what she describes as some amazing places, she was able to look at the Finger Lakes with a new sense of appreciation. “This place is absolutely beautiful, and it made coming back here much easier. Plus,” she said, “the intentional growth I mentioned above, also helped. I was worried that I would move back here with my partner, and there would be nothing for us to do. Today, we’re thankful for the businesses that have reinvented themselves here in the Finger Lakes and the new businesses that have opened their doors based on the passions the owners have.” 

Today, Meg owns Simple Marketing LLC, based out of Geneva.  

“When we first bought our home here in Geneva and I really started to explore, I noticed how most small businesses and organizations don’t have the access nor the resources to fully promote themselves. At the time I was working remotely for a small digital marketing firm based in Nashville and I was astonished and some of the invoices we sent out.” It was then that she realized she could make her skills accessible to local businesses and organizations that really need them. So, in April 2021, she took a leap and started taking on small clients, helping with all things digital marketing from website design to social media management. By May  2021, she knew that she could do this on her own.  

Some of the advantages that Meg has found to living in the area as opposed to a larger city is the connectivity, which she says is unlike anything she has ever witnessed. “I have yet to market myself or my business. All my clients I work with have been sent to me through word-of-mouth. It  always amazes me when I get an email or a text from someone that says, ‘So and so  recommended your services.'”  

She added, “You get the feeling that everyone wants to see everyone succeed. That everyone works hard to uplift others. I am beyond thankful for the small community of people that I have met that continue to uplift me and my business. It never goes unnoticed and makes you want to do the same for everyone else. “

Some of the ways that Meg and Eddie like to spend their time include taking their dog on long walks, walking to downtown Geneva, and having lunch or walking to the waterfront. At night, they typically spend time on Linden Street at their favorite bar/restaurant, Microclimate. “The owners of Microclimate are amazing, and we love experiencing what they have to offer.”

For anyone looking to relocate to that area Meg says, “Give it a chance. Even though the towns in the Finger Lakes are small, the people, businesses, and organizations make up for it. I’ve seen the growth here and it truly is unmatched. The atmosphere still encourages you to  slow down while also providing you with constant opportunities to do something fun and  different.” 

She also added, “The biggest thing that you’re going to get when you relocate here is the community. Prepare to start connecting with people you normally wouldn’t. Prepare to start connecting with people in ways you normally wouldn’t. The sense of community and collaboration that you get here is open to everyone if you just accept it!” 

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

Meet Andrew Sowers and Evan Olson of ElmiraWorks

Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers in the Southern Finger Lakes region have a new spot to meet, collaborate, and work when inspired to work outside their home office, thanks to two local entrepreneurs who made their way back home, Andrew Sowers and Evan Olson.

ElmiraWorks, located in the heart of Downtown Elmira, NY, is a newly opened coworking space that offers short-term, affordable office lease and meeting room options in a well-designed and inspiring atmosphere. Andrew was inspired to open the space when he relocated to the area. He shared, “While working from home can be convenient, sometimes you want to leave the house and feel more connected to the community. This led us to consider opening the first co-working space in Elmira.”

While several co-working spaces exist in neighboring areas like Corning, Ithaca, and Binghamton, Andrew and his wife, Mariah Flaim-Sowers, partnered with their friends Evan and Evan’s girlfriend, Marissa McMahon, to establish the first of such spaces in Elmira. “We believe that Elmira has the potential to attract a cohort of young entrepreneurs and remote workers, and we’re doing our part to help build the infrastructure needed to support them,” Andrew said.

Andrew is local to the Southern Tier, born and raised in Elmira. After graduating with a degree in computer science from Ithaca College, he worked as a software engineer in New York City for several years. Following his marriage to his college sweetheart, Mariah, they moved from Brooklyn and back to Elmira to enjoy the small-town lifestyle. They closed on their new home in Elmira in April of 2021 after a search all throughout 2020. “The pandemic did accelerate our search,” Andrew said, “although we had been planning our move before the start of the pandemic.”

Evan is a Corning, NY, local. He was born and raised in Corning and studied at SUNY Corning Community College. “After CCC, I worked in a few institutions and explored different degree paths such as mechanical engineering, computer engineering, and finally landing on computer science,” Evans shared. “I worked full-time through the remainder of my undergrad at SUNY Empire State and graduated in 2017.” At this time, Evan was living and working in Rochester, NY. He and Marissa moved back to the area after Evan got a position at Corning, Inc. Marissa and Evan met at Corning Community College and always had fairly strong ties to the area so, he said, it wasn’t difficult to move back, especially having purchased a house while still finishing his undergrad at SUNY Empire State.

For Andrew, being close to family again was a major motivating factor to moving back, along with the promise of a relatively low cost of living (compared to national averages). The ability to work remotely further made it an easy choice.

In addition to managing ElmiraWorks, Andrew and Evan have full-time jobs in the SoFlx community.

Evan works as a Technical Manager for Corning Gorilla Glass IOX Metrology. “My group is largely responsible for designing, prototyping, and facilitating the manufacture and production of post-ion exchange glass metrology.” Evan added, “My team is specifically responsible for writing the software that runs the instrument my group builds. Our software controls all of the hardware on the instrument, collects all of the data, makes a series of calculations, and reduces that data to a number of specific stress values. These values are used to determine the quality of the ion exchange for particular glass recipes. They are used in the research and development of new glass recipes and quality control of currently deployed glasses.”

Andrew works remotely as a software engineer at Gannett, where he’s involved in building their iOS app for USA Today and all of the local news apps like the Elmira Star Gazette, Corning Leader, and Ithaca Journal. Gannett’s roots can be traced back to Elmira, where Frank Gannett incorporated his first newspaper, The Star Gazette, over a century ago. Andrew shared, “My mother was also a graphic artist for The Star-Gazette, so I feel like I’m continuing the legacy of Elmira and its citizens by contributing to journalism. My wife, Mariah, is a program manager for Red Hat, a software consulting company owned by IBM, which also has roots in the Endicott-Binghamton area. She helps plan the programs that enable Red Hat employees to achieve long-term success and career growth.”

Before moving to the area, one of Andrew and Mariah’s biggest concerns was the availability of quality restaurants. “Having lived in NYC, we had gotten used to being surrounded by excellent food options, so we were concerned about losing that after moving here,” Andrew said. However, to their surprise, Andrews said, they found that there has been a food renaissance in the Southern Finger Lakes region in the last decade. He shared, “There are now several high-quality establishments in the area that feature fresh, local, and quality ingredients and authentic foods from various cultures around the world. It’s clear that good food is readily available here, and it seems that even more options are on the horizon.”

Since moving back to the area, Mariah and Andrew have some exciting news: they are expecting a son this May! “We are thrilled and know that this new addition to our family will impact how we engage with the community,” Andrew said, adding, “We’re excited for the new adventure that awaits us and are looking forward to creating new memories in the Southern Finger Lakes region.”

As remote workers, Mariah and Andrew could work from anywhere. He shared that though it’s tempting to move to a tropical region and work through a Zoom call with a mojito in hand, that wasn’t the lifestyle they wanted. “We were drawn to the Southern Finger Lakes region because of its wonderful people, rich history, an abundance of recreational amenities, and potential for growth. We wanted to be a part of this community and contribute to its vibrant future.”

A typical day for the Sowers household starts with a cup of locally roasted coffee from Big Nerd Coffee Company. If the weather permits, Andrew bikes down to the co-working space. After working for a few hours, he might have lunch at one of downtown Elmira’s spots and grab an espresso. “In the evenings, Mariah and I might play with our dog Billy in the yard or meet up with friends and grab dinner at one of the many restaurants located between Corning and Elmira.”

But their favorite thing to do in the area is to visit the lakes during the summer. Andrew shared, “There are numerous things to do in the area, which makes it an attractive place to live,” Andrew said, adding, “Living in Elmira, we enjoy the short drive to the lakes or Corning, and we’re happy to see newer places opening up in Elmira, like The Finger Lakes House, Rye Bar, Ill Eagle, and WMC North, among others.” He added, “There are also many outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the year, such as hiking in the spring and fall or skiing and snowboarding in the winter at Greek Peak.”

Evan says he tends to be a serial hobbyist. “I enjoy learning just about anything and like to pick up new hobbies and skills wherever I can,” he said. “Lately, I have been building a wood shop with the main goal of building all the cabinets for a kitchen renovation we’re planning/starting. I also enjoy programming on the side, working on cars and motorcycles, engineering solutions for many of these projects, and leveraging 3D printing to solve them. Outside of that, if we are not working on some project, we spend time with our animals in our own personal zoo of 4 cats and two dogs.”

If you are looking to relocate to the area, Andrew has this advice to share: “As someone who has been a long-time resident of the area and having spent several years living in New York City, I would encourage people to consider the benefits of small-town living. Some of these benefits include shorter commute times, friendly neighborhood communities, abundant green space, clean air, more room to raise a family, and housing at more affordable prices. The Southern Finger Lakes region is especially family-friendly, offering a variety of outdoor recreational activities and plenty of space to raise a family. These are just some of the many benefits that small-town living offers, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.” Andrew would love to encourage ex-pats from the SoFLX area to consider moving back home. He said, “Many millennials from this area have moved away for work elsewhere since completing college. We’re now at a point where some folks in this generation are considering settling down and starting families. For those who can work remotely, it might be worth considering moving back home and reconnecting with their roots. The major challenge is that many of our peers have the perception that Elmira and the Southern Finger Lakes region’s best days are behind them, and most of them aren’t aware of the renaissance that’s starting to take shape here.”

Evan noted, “The area has definitely seen a revitalization in the number of quality restaurants and establishments to get a nice cocktail. Definitely far more than when I grew up here.”

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

Meet Crystal Moran and Anddy Reynoso

Crystal Moran and her fiance, Anddy Reynoso live in Horseheads, NY with their two teenage boys, Allen and Andrew, and fur babies, Shadow and Roscoe. 

They moved to the region in 2004, Crystal from the Bronx and Anddy from Washington Heights, NY.

“My stepdad always told my mom he was going to take us out of the projects,” Crystal said, “I never heard of this area before he came and bought a house here.” She added, “Anddy and I were just about to reach one year into our relationship, so we visited and decided it would be a nice place to start our life together.” 

Crystal thought it would be a great change for them from the city, and that it would offer them the peace they were looking for. But, they did have some concerns. “We said OK, maybe we can get used to this but our biggest concern was diversity. Our Dominican-Puerto Rican culture wasn’t visible to us here.” For example, she recalls, “We couldn’t call up a restaurant and get the food we were so used to eating.” But, a few weeks after moving they found out they were pregnant, and though they were scared in becoming young parents, they were also excited to raise their baby in a different environment than the one they were coming from. 

Still, two years later, in 2006 they moved back to New York City in the hopes of making their professional dreams come true, something they thought would only be possible there. “They say if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere,” Crystal said. So they went back to try, but found that the cost of living made it difficult to launch. And they came back. “I feel like the cost of living here is very affordable,” Crystal shared, “and if you connect with the right people they will assist with your goals and dreams.”

She added, “I don’t regret moving and raising my family here. I’m seeing more diversity, and more small businesses of all cultures opening.”

In October 2020, they started cooking out of their house for people who asked them for catering services, but eventually, they decided to save up their money and make it official. “As a family, we’ve spoken about opening a restaurant for a long time,” Crystal said.

They were further convinced to do it with support from other family members and friends. “There’s good and bad in pursuing a career in the restaurant business, but if we didn’t take the risk, we would have never known what was possible.” Crystal shared that opening their restaurant, Boricana in Elmira, has been amazing. “We, as a family, cook everything with love and from the heart.” And the restaurant has received a lot of community support and has a growing fanbase of Latinos and non-Latinos alike.

A normal day for Crystal and Anddy consists of making sure the kids are up and out for school, the fur babies are cared for until kids get home, and managing their restaurant from 6 or 7 AM till 7 PM. “After we close up, we head home to our boys, check in on their day, and do it again. Right now we are closed on weekends, so we take those days for inventory, paperwork, and family time.”

In the end, Crystal and Anddy have found community here. “We like to spend time with our friends and family, so anything they plan, we are in there.” 

For those unfamiliar to the area, Crystal would like you to know that, “We have amazing bakeries, restaurants, and wineries. I’m not a drinker but Anddy can tell you there are some great wineries across the region. We also have great parks and nature escapes throughout the area and people here are amazing.”

If in the area make sure to check out Boricana which specializes in typical Dominican/Puerto Rican cuisine and friendly service.

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

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.