Meet Emma Miran

Emma Miran was living in New York City when she decided to move to the Southern Finger Lakes Region. While she enjoyed her time living in a very large city, she grew up in Waverly, NY, where her parents still live, and liked the idea of moving closer to family.

She moved to Elmira in August 2018 and bought a house in the city of Elmira in 2021 which she shares with her 3-year-old spring spaniel poodle mix, Benji. “I love the area and living in a community that is small enough to get to know your neighbors, but also large enough to have access to restaurants, events, and outdoor activities,” Emma said, adding, “Elmira is a very family-oriented community, and it’s nice to live in a place that feels grounded and community-focused. I also enjoy all the outdoor opportunities that the region offers and the proximity to large communities like Rochester and Syracuse.”

Emma went to undergrad at Cornell University and graduate school at SUNY Binghamton, so she was very familiar with the area. She visited her parents and childhood home often, making the move from the big city feel like a smooth transition back. “I love the area and all the hiking and recreational activities. I grew up horseback riding and camping, so while I enjoyed living in a big city like New York, it was very appealing to live in a place where I could go hiking on the weekends and have access to nature and the outdoors.” Another motivator for Emma to move? The cost of living. “It’s a lot less here, and it was appealing to be able to afford to buy a house, live near my family, and still have access to a lot of things I enjoyed,” Emma said.

Still, moving from a large place like NYC, Emma was concerned that she might find it boring and lacking in things to do. “I think the perception of the area is that there are a lot of older people who are retired and that there isn’t much happening,” Emma said. “But I don’t find that to be the case. Many annual events and activities occur in Elmira. I also really enjoy being closer to family, and the job opportunity with the city of Elmira felt like a great fit for me since I’d worked in economic development and government for most of my career.”

Since returning, Emma has found a lot is the same, but some things have also changed. “I still really enjoy the outdoors, biking, horseback riding, hiking, canoeing on the Chemung or Susquehanna River, or boating on one of the Finger Lakes with friends.”

Not only does Emma feel that the natural beauty of the region is underappreciated, but she also points to all the creative entertainment and things to do that are often missed out on. “The Clemens Center in Elmira provides great theatre opportunities to the region, and I enjoy going to the Broadway Series when I have a chance. Elmira Little Theatre is also a great local theater group that puts on plays and events. Market Street in Corning is quite close and offers a lot of dining opportunities and more restaurants are coming into Downtown Elmira and providing new dining opportunities. I also enjoy visiting the wineries and breweries along Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.” While she agrees that life in the Southern Tier is a bit slower-paced than in NYC, it is also something she enjoys.

Emma works as the Community Development Director for the city of Elmira. “Working in local government, I am exposed to a lot of different perspectives and ideas on how public space should look and what people want to see in the region and Elmira. I find it very interesting and every single day is unique because I work on many projects with different nonprofit organizations, committees, and boards.”

Emma has also experienced some advantages of living in a smaller area. “In a lot of ways, I’ve been able to move my career along faster and get more hands-on experience in different areas of government administration than I would at another level of government such as state or federal government. The department that I oversee is small, so it’s very much a hands-on-deck approach. Because of that I inevitably wear a lot of different hats and can gain experience in different areas of community development such as urban planning, code enforcement, and historic preservation all at once whereas in a larger organization, I might only be able to work on one project type or one skill area for years before moving on to something else.”

These days, a normal weekday for Emma consists of walks in the neighborhood with Benji, and working at City Hall in downtown Elmira. “It’s about a 5-minute drive from my house, so it’s easy to run home for lunch, which is really nice,” Emma said. “I oversee the City’s Urban Renewal Agency, the Department of Community Development, where staff manage grant funds from state and federal sources for economic development, urban planning, and community development projects. So most of my day is spent between meetings and administrative work.”

On the weekends, Emma enjoys hiking and taking small day trips around the region. “It’s quite easy to do a short trip to a larger city in the Northeast such as Philadelphia, New York, or even DC, which makes it a great option for people who can work remotely or hybrid but also want to be able to visit a large city.” Emma added, “Last winter, I even started snowshoeing! 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning is a great space to learn arts and crafts, and I have taken a few ceramic workshops there and really enjoyed them. I am very interested in history as well, and the region is filled with lots of interesting historic sites, local museums, and fun walking tours. So, I sometimes will take weekend trips to different historic sites such as Seward House in Auburn or the Women’s Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls, and Elmira itself has several historic sites including the Civil War Prison Camp, John Jones Museum, and the Chemung County Historical Society.”

To anyone considering a move to the area, Emma says, “The area is more than just a tourist destination. A lot of job opportunities exist in the region as well and there are opportunities for young people to stay here or move back and find a job and advance their career.”

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

Meet Charlie Treichler and Joshua Jenkins

Joshua Jenkins grew up in a suburb of Little Rock, AR. “Imagine the classic small town idealized in movies and TV,” Josh said. “There were a lot of positive things, but also a lack of diversity and open-mindedness.” As a young gay man growing up in small-town Arkansas, Johs said it was a challenge, especially to express himself openly and freely. “Fortunately, I had an incredibly supportive family. They fostered my love of art from a young age, and were totally accepting of my sexuality when I came out in high school.”

Charles Treichler grew up just outside of Hammondsport, NY on a hilltop farm. “I am the youngest of four; we were all homeschooled and very close,” Charlie said. “My grandparents and two uncles lived a quarter of a mile down the seasonal dirt road that runs through our farm. We had a milk cow, chickens, and a huge garden. My dad was an engineer at Corning and my mom worked at the public library in Hammondsport.”

Charlie moved away for college in 2008 and lived in and around Pittsburgh, PA for close to ten years. Then, in 2018, he moved to California to work for a tech company. “Almost immediately, I realized that living in San Francisco and working for a startup was not for me,” he said. “I was planning to go back to graduate school to become a counselor, but had always been interested in farming as well, so I decided I’d spend the summer working on an apple orchard in Philo, CA in rural Mendocino County.”

Meanwhile, Josh spent most of his 20s and early 30s being a classroom art teacher. “Parts of that career were very rewarding,” he said, “but I quickly began to realize it wouldn’t be a job I could sustainably do into my older years. While working at an outdoor education camp I fell in love with farming. It led me to work on one of the best organic farms in Arkansas, Dripping Springs, and then to Northern California.”

This is where he and Charlie met and both ended up working on an apple farm.

“We fell in love,” Charlie said, “and I fell back in love with living in the country, working outside, and growing apples. We moved around several times after that: first to New Mexico, then Chattanooga, TN, and finally back to the farm I grew up on to start our own cidery and farm-stay business.”

Josh recalls, “Charlie had mentioned to me early on that his family had land with apples in the Finger Lakes region and that it would be a beautiful place to start a farm business. I had never been to that part of New York before, so we made a visit in October of 2021 and I fell in love with the area.”

In January of 2022, they both moved to Hammondsport and live on Charlie’s family farm where they are beginning a small farm and cidery operation of their own called Sylvan Farm and Cidery.

The move didn’t come without concerns. “I definitely had concerns about isolation,” Josh said. “Being gay, finding community can be difficult in a city, let alone in remote rural areas with small populations.”

“I was worried about moving back to a rural area as a gay couple for sure,” Charlie shared. “We weren’t sure how conservative it might be, and if we would be made to feel uncomfortable. I was also worried about being socially isolated. Could we find friends? Then there was the question about living with/close to family: what would that feel like?”

Now that they are here, one thing they have felt most comforted by is the community they have found here.

“We had definitely found community,” Josh said. “It may be more spread out than most people who live in dense areas are used to, but there are so many amazing people living here, and seemingly continuing to move here, that I have let go of those fears.” Charlie added, “There is also a great community of small organic farmers and even cider makers here in the FLX. Probably the best cider in the country is made here.”

Josh said, “I had wanted to start my own small market garden/farm before meeting Charlie, so being able to start that type of business in an area where it seems like agriculture is thriving is extremely exciting to me!”

As they continue to build their farm/cider business, their excitement continues to grow. “We are always getting such great feedback from people, and that just feeds into our excitement about building our dreams,” Charlie said, adding. “Living close to family has had huge benefits while we start our own farm and business.”

But, they have found that because it is a spread-out area, social connections can be challenging to make. On the other hand, they said, they feel more socially connected here than they did in any of the other places they’ve lived. “We’ve even met some other young queer couples living not too far away,” Charlie said. “We’ve gotten used to driving half an hour to an hour to hang out with friends. We’ve met some amazing local farmers and found some good mentors.”

They also enjoy the proximity to NYC, Rochester, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and other major cities a drive away. “Although we love living in the country, we enjoy going out dancing in the city every now and then as well.”

As far as relocating to the region, Charlie and Josh said they found it to be fairly easy to relocate. “We’ve been able to stay with my family while we work on our own house, ” Charlie said, and Josh added, “I had been moving around for various seasonal farm jobs for the 3 years before I met Charlie, and we had made 2 moves as a couple. I was very excited to put down roots for the long term.”

When not at their jobs at Living Roots Winery, they spend a lot of their free time building their home (which they are constructing by hand), planting and tending their apple trees, harvesting apples, and making cider.

As far as advantages to moving to the region they both agree that access to land and family support is at the top of the list. “One of the biggest hurdles when getting into farming is land access,” Josh said. “We have been fortunate to buy land from Charlie’s parents at a reasonable cost. Also, the cider community here in the Finger Lakes is some of the best in the world. Everyone has been so generous with their knowledge anytime we have a question. It’s a great region to be apple growers and cider makers.” Charlie added, “Here we’ve found the opportunity to start our own business and pursue life-long dreams of becoming farmers and cider-makers. Ultimately, what we’re looking for is a certain lifestyle: quality of life, certainly, but also the ability to ‘own the means of production’ as it were, to have agency in our lives so we can be productive and find balance.”

When not working at the winery, or on their farm, Charlie and Josh like to attend food events and enjoy all the nature around them. “Just driving around the lakes on a beautiful day is a good outing. Sometimes we head up to Rochester for a more city experience,” Charlie said. “A few times a year we go visit friends in Brooklyn or Pittsburgh. We also love quiet days walking through the forest on our farm, cooking fresh produce, and drinking great local wine.”

Almost two years into their move and they have no regrets. “It’s an absolutely beautiful place to live,” Charlie said, “I feel like I’m on vacation just driving from home to the grocery store because of so many stunning views. If you are a lover of food and beverage, there are endless opportunities to enjoy really exceptional food experiences, you just have to know where to look.” Josh agreed. “It’s a beautiful and welcoming place, closer to many urban areas than you think,” he said. “There are many young people here who do very cool projects, especially related to wine, cider, beer, food, farming, and art. You’ll meet the right people and form a community. How many places can you make a meal paired with wine where every ingredient comes from within 50 miles?”

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

Meet Brian Lee Whisenhunt and Mitchell Smith

Brian Lee Whisenhunt and Mitchell Smith live in the Village of Painted Post, NY with their two dogs, Stella Josephine Parker and Nova Delphine Parker (The Parker Sisters), in a mid-century ranch that backs up to the woods. “Our family life is centered on time with friends and family; exploring the Finger Lakes region; lots of gardening and work around our property; travel and exploring different cities and communities near and far; we’re also makers and performers, so we’re always creating something or developing a new scheme of some sort.”

Brian and Mitchell moved to the Finger Lakes from Midland, TX – “which is way out in West Texas desert” – in December of 2016. “After all that time away from bodies of water, large trees, and lush vegetation, we spent the first summer in the Finger Lakes in a little bit of shock. Honestly, we were both enraptured by the verdancy of this region and couldn’t get enough of the natural beauty of it. We still can’t.”

They met in Wichita, KS before moving to Austin, TX, and then to Terre Haute, IN before heading back to Texas. Neither of them is from any of those places, so they’ve created family, found friends, and built community around them wherever they’ve gone.

Brian was born and raised in Tulsa, OK and Mitchell is a native of upstate New York. That’s a bit of a joke between them because even though Mitchell was born in the Norwich area, he and his mother left when he was 3 years old, and he hadn’t been back Upstate until his move with Brian. 

Brian’s role as the Executive Director of The Rockwell Museum brought them to the area. Though Mitchell still has family in the area and childhood photos from the region, they still didn’t quite know what to expect when moving here. Mitchell’s mother didn’t really have fond memories and was worried they would be bored— but they have found that not to be the case! 

“Like a lot of people, our previous New York experience was New York City, so we didn’t know a lot about the area. We were unaware of just how different it would be,” Mitchell said. “We did some research before Brian had applied to be the new executive director at the Rockwell Museum, but we were concerned about the size of Corning, NY, and as a queer couple, initially weren’t quite sure we wanted to move somewhere so small—even in New York state.” In the end, Corning and the areas around it have proven to be an amazing place to live for them. “No matter where our travels take us, it always feels like such a comfortable, welcoming, and easy place to return to.” 

Other than having to drive their dogs across the country in a 3-door Toyota Yaris, the move was easy for them and things quickly fell into place once Brian accepted his new job. “We closed on our house in less than two months and were able to move in the day after we arrived in December. We had some help on the ground, so our advice to those relocating to the area is to never ignore tips and tricks from friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Find someone who made the move recently and get all the info you can from them.”

Their best tip, however, is “Start a list on your phone of the places, spaces, and things to do in the Finger Lakes! Everyone here is so generous in sharing the things they love and we’re still checking things off and adding to the list we started when we moved here.”

While Brian is enjoying his work at the museum, Mitchell has had a few jobs since arriving to the area, including working for the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, and now at Corning Community College Development Foundation where he is currently serving as the Director of Development. 

Since they both have professional roles with community connections, they spend quite a bit of time on the events and activities of those organizations, like the Elmira Little Theater (ELT) and the Museum Association of New York (MANY). Mitchell was on the board of ELT and is a past president of the organization and Brian currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors of MANY.

“We found and developed a community of friends since our arrival that’s much deeper and more expansive than where we’ve previously lived. There is just something extremely welcoming about Corning and the region—it’s hard to describe, but beautiful to experience. Beyond the amazing people, the area is just beautiful. We try to spend the summer exploring with our dogs Stella Jo and Nova Dee. We have a lifetime membership for the State Parks and take advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds us whenever we can.” Though they won’t name their favorite State Park here because it’s quiet and off the beaten path and they want it to stay that way! “But if you see us out and chat us up and we’ll be happy to share all our secret favorite things.”

Brian and Mitchell’s day-to-day is pretty quiet and low-key. They appreciate their short commutes to work and the time it affords for their family, doing things around the house and relaxing after work. “We are lucky our careers support personal missions to increase access to art and culture for everyone. We love living in a community that truly appreciates the arts and the value they add to the quality of life.”

Like a lot of people in the region, how they spend their time is informed by the seasons and the weather. At the time of this publishing, it’s summer in the Finger Lakes, so that means they’re trying to soak it all in and make the most of it. “This past weekend, we went to four different art openings in Corning on Friday evening. Afterward, we met some friends out for a late dinner at The Cellar which is one of our favorite places to eat and to take friends from out of town. Michael and Ellen (the owners) do a wonderful job at showcasing the produce and products of the region, no matter your dietary needs. On Saturday, we took Stella Jo and Nova Dee for a walk at their favorite park and then to run errands. They love being out and about. In the afternoon, we went kayaking with the Chemung River Friends and that evening attended a Solstice wine-tasting dinner at Silver Threads Vineyard, a small but excellent bio-intensive winery on Seneca Lake. Sunday the weather was amazing, so we spent most of the day working in our garden and around our property. In the evening, we made pizzas with friends and sat around the fire for a low-key finale to the weekend. Not every weekend is so fun-filled, but a lot of the summer ones are!”

After living here for almost seven years, Brian and Mitchell are confident that whatever activity, community, or needs feed your happiness, you’ll find it in the Finger Lakes. “If you want a more urban experience with shopping and well-known restaurants, it’s easily accessible. But, the next day, you can find yourself in the woods on a hike along a waterfall after a beautiful breakfast at a little mom-and-pop cate. The variety and possibilities are truly endless.”

They added, “We think it’s important to know there are so many places to find your community in the Finger Lakes as we have through The Rockwell Museum, Elmira Little Theater, and so many other cultural organizations, festivals, and activities. The most important thing is to get out there and connect. You are not going to make the deepest community connections in the Finger Lakes from your home!”

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

Meet Reverend J. Gary Brinn

Reverend J. Gary Brinn is a clergyperson serving the United Church of Christ as the Pastor and Teacher at The Park Church (TPC) in Elmira.

He moved to the area two years ago, in the summer of 2021 after serving as a transitional minister in Door County, Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served at churches on the coast of Maine and on Long Island.

He knew about The Park Church and its amazing history from his prior years serving in the UCC’s New York Conference (UCCNY). “I knew little about Elmira,” he said. “I was conducting a nationwide search for my next call when UCCNY staff reached out and asked me to consider applying at The Park Church. The church was (and is) a great fit, with the added bonus of bringing me back to the East Coast, a conference I love, and near family in the Rochester area.”

Despite not knowing much about Elmira, Rev. Gary quickly learned about the impacts of de-industrialization, the 1972 flood, and the role of the carceral state in the local economy. “These concerns actually excited me,” he shared. “This was a place where you could do real ministry, and have a real impact.”

The reverend has found the first two years in the area to be non-stop learning, all confirming those first impressions. “What I did not expect was a congregation as deeply engaged and committed as I am. This has been a real blessing.”

Still, the relocation didn’t come without its challenges. “We were still in pandemic mode, with a hot housing market, and both the congregation and the outgoing interim minister wanted me here as quickly as possible.” He added, “Finding a suitable home that would be available almost immediately was a challenge. (It was my first glimpse of the need for housing justice work in Elmira.)”

Rev. Gary finally did find a home on the north side, in Elmira’s 4th City Council District, where he lives with his beloved Golden Retriever, Oscar.

In addition to community, some of the other benefits Rev. Gary feels he has received from moving here were very personal, from a sister (and now his mother) in Rochester to collegial relationships from his prior call. “I am blessed to be working with some amazing church members and community organizers. Elmira’s critical needs made it possible for me to start getting deeply involved in community organizing and leadership within a year of my arrival. Like most places, there is an ‘old boys network,’ but it has less power in a time of crisis and opportunity.”

Rev. Gary’s week centers on Sunday worship. On most other work days, he likes to head downtown for three hours in the Pastor’s Study of his historic church, where he works at a desk once used by the Reverend Thomas K. Beecher. “I may meet with congregants, plan worship, or return calls. I usually work from home in the afternoon, writing and attending meetings via Zoom. Several nights a week, there are events and meetings, some online, some at the church,” he said, adding, “These days, if I am not in a meeting, I spend an hour or so knocking on doors as I campaign for a City Council seat.”

And like most homeowners, he finds the house and yard are an ongoing project. He enjoys watching sports and has had a chance to see our local teams and last year’s NASCAR weekend at Watkins Glen. “When I’m not otherwise engaged, you might find me reading, or playing a new RPG on my Xbox.”

While Rev. Gary admits that Elmira has plenty of challenges he also feels that is absolutely the best thing about it and he has a lot of hope in the newcomers making the area their home. “Enthusiastic new residents can have an impact as entrepreneurs, community activists, and even as homeowners restoring property.”

For those looking at the Southern Finger Lakes as a potential relocation destination, Rev. Gary offers this insight: “In a time when some wish to impose their religious views on others, you will find freedom in New York State. No one is going to come between a woman and her doctor. Your LGTBTI+ kids will be as safe as they can be anywhere. There is much more to be done… and to borrow from the United Farm Workers, “Sí se puede!” (Yes, it is possible!).”

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