New job in Plattsburgh

[ref301]

I start at CVPH on August 18th. Had three visits looking for a place to buy, no luck yet. We are probably going to buy some property and look to build. Need some advice on rental property as my daughter and I will need a place to live while our current house is on the market. Any thoughts? She will be starting at AuSable Valley Central School in the Fall.

[plattsburgher]

Did you already find a rental?
Think you will enjoy this area very much from the sound of things and your hobbies and likes.............but to be perfectly honest, Ausable Valley wouldn't be my first choice of schools for my teen. There are some areas of Keeseville that are rough............kinda redneck rough. A very good friend's son who went to spend time on the beach down in that area with his girlfriend (both from other schools) got a pretty bad beating a few years ago. There are a lot of kids in that district who don't get out much if you know what I mean...........For instance, to go into Plattsburgh to the mall is the farthest place they have ever been in their lives. I don't mean to sound snotty, and I am sure there are nice kids there as well, but have to say it. I just don't know any professional-type families who moved here for jobs and ended up in that district........(for what it is worth).

[Jenny55]

ref301? Any news on the move, my husband is looking at a job at one of the mills as an egineering postion and we would also like to know what its like out there. I have not heard great things about the area? I have heard that Peru is better than plattsburgh. Do you find the area friendly? Good for small children? Any info would be appreciated.

[Perutcher]

Dear Plattsburgher,

I'm very sorry to inform you that Keeseville, like any other area, has both good and bad parts too it. I'm sure I could show you many places in Plattsburgh that I wouldn't walk in broad daylight. The difference is that I have lived in both towns. True we do have "redneck" kids around, but there are 1800 people that live here with many of us being between 30 and 45 yrs old making an average of $41,000 annually. I guess it's the thought of don't let one bad apple ruin the entire bunch. I have lived a very peaceful life in Keeseville for the past 34 years. I have seen and befriended so many good people in this little town. I attended and graduated from AuSable Valley and I had a wonderful experience during my time there. I now teach at Peru and, to be honest, see more issues there than I ever did at AVCS. Sure many of the people in Peru have more money, per say, but that doesn't make it all peachy-keen if you know what I mean...So just to put everything into perspective, it sounds like you know a lot of information about the "good" side of the 'burgh, but you know very very little about this town, other than hear say. Maybe you should come down some day and contact a Mr. Stephen Englehart. He is our local historian and I'm sure he could show you a side to this quaint town that you might not have heard about. Oh, and just for the record, I lived in Plattsburgh, graduated college from there and have many friends and relatives who live there. My wife and I are up there daily so we know the place inside and out and trust me, there are some areas, I truly believe, even you wouldn't go in broad daylight. And one final note, yes, you sounded snotty. I must say this that over the course of my life I have found out several things. The first; idiots and rednecks come in all colors and from all areas...even Plattsburgh. Second, just because you have money that doesn't mean your any better than anyone else. Finally, there are good people everywhere. You'd see that more clearly if you actually left the 'burgh sometime.

[plattsburgher]

In my wildest dreams I never would have ever imagined that I would be called "snotty" because I lived in Pburgh, NY......................I am just saying what I have found to be true for me and my family. I happen to know Mr. Englehart and admire his work for all the historical preservation dedication in this area............I have attended many lectures at Clinton Community College and the Kent Delord House and he is wonderful. My postings on this site have more to do with children coming in from other areas of the country and blending in with other children. That is sometimes the key factor in whether a family can fit in easily or not when the parents move to a new city. I never meant to intentionally slam Keeseville. I do think it might be easier for a child who has lived in a larger area to enter the city school district here than a smaller one in a more rural area. That is my opinion. You are welcome to your opinion as well. Nothing in Plattsburgh is perfect. Nothing anywhere is perfect. Ten years ago I could walk downtown to the post office and know almost everyone there. Today yes, there are more transients and people from other places there. I would never say that Pburgh is perfect, but if you come from other areas of the country, there is a huge difference. My "help" is for people who have kids in other schools and who want a good school district for their kids..............I think Pburgh and Peru are the best at what they offer. You can give your opinions and why you feel the way you do without slamming me. Hope you and your family had a wonderful Tsgiving .

[ckhthankgod]

does Plattsburgh really have section of town that a person couldn't walk through in broad daylight? I don't know why, but I find that very hard to believe.

[plattsburgher]

I was going to ask that question myself..........Thanks for beating me to it.....
Was thinking about all sections and maybe they mean downtown? However for all the college kids and people that hang there at night (and massive amounts of police presence for this size city) I just don't understand........I know I don't feel afraid ever at night anywhere.........Most of the sort of crime that gets people in trouble around here is domestic violence, but we have an excellent place here for people to get help. I know the people who run the organization. It truly does help people get out of awful situations if necessary........Don't know where the writer means

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by plattsburgher

I was going to ask that question myself..........Thanks for beating me to it.....
Was thinking about all sections and maybe they mean downtown? However for all the college kids and people that hang there at night (and massive amounts of police presence for this size city) I just don't understand........I know I don't feel afraid ever at night anywhere.........Most of the sort of crime that gets people in trouble around here is domestic violence, but we have an excellent place here for people to get help. I know the people who run the organization. It truly does help people get out of awful situations if necessary........Don't know where the writer means

As a person that went to Oswego St., it sounds very similar to Plattsburgh. Both are in cities of the same size, both have SUNY Colleges, both have a small, but growing population coming in from other areas, and both area on a lake with a river cutting the city in half. Oswego was not scary at all and still had the college student presence downtown at night. So, I would think Plattsburgh and Oswego would be very similar, with the exception of Plattsburgh having a more of suburban feel with the Peru, Saranac and Beekmantown school districts being right next to the city of P'burgh with some housing somewhat adjacent. Oswego is pretty much rural until Fulton or the villages of Hannibal or Mexico.

[ref301]

Well, after all this time I wanted to give all the helpful folks on this site an update.

We did move into Jay, actually AuSable Acres, and were able to buy a lot and build in very secluded section of the development. So far, we love it! Yes, I heard everything about the taxes, but we are actually paying less annually than we did in our very rural area of WNY before the move. When you get a chance, see if you can find Alexander, NY.

Our daughter has integrated well at AuSable Valley. She has been very active in sports and very busy with school work but has made some good friends. Traveling around for her activities, we have met many other parents from other school districts. I would say that we made a good choice in an area where it would be hard to make a bad choice. All the local districts have good reputations (coming from an outsider) with their plusses and minuses. Having brought 3 other children through a small, rural school district in another part of the State, the differences are minor. Basically you get exactly out of a public education what you put into it. Despite our taxes, I can tell you that we fare much better in NYS for schools than many other areas of the country.

I see and hear much of the same small town rivarly that we experienced in WNY. Plattsburgh is not much bigger than Batavia, basically a small town with a lot of franchise resturants. I spend all day there for work and a little time for extra-curricular activities. We get to Burlington occasionally to mix it up. Keeseville is the equivalent of Attica and the angst between folks who grew up in Keesville (and that school district) and AuSable Forks (and that school district) is palpable. Really no different than Alexander and Attica. Lake Placid is a lot like Cooperstown (where my wife is from). Tremendous tourist traffic with a small town feel.

I do want to point out to the locals my outside perspective. When I drive home in the afternoon and I am heading dowm I87 and get to see Mount Mansfield across the lake and Whiteface to my west, I remember why we came. What a beautifull region! Getting a little skiing in. Have the maps for hiking and fishing when the weather permits. Couldn't ask for more! Sure the local economy could be better and it would be nice to able to get somewhere (anywhere!) fast, but we came to enjoy the natural beauty and the opportunities that will provide. 3 in college (one on to med school in the Fall) and 2 more years for our high school daughter (who's is planning on attending the Air Force Academy). No, we'll never be locals but that give us the advantage of being able to ignore much of the "in-fighting" and enjoy the ride!