Finger Lake town info/impressions (New York, Rochester: school districts, colleges, earthquakes)

[Muggy]

I'm sorry pnweton, it's most likely too late. Keuka is prime for messin' up. To top it off there was a story recently about european vineyards being at risk because of global warming. You know where that will lead.

The Finger Lakes are simply too quaint and perfect to survive.

[Muggy]

America (and the Finger Lakes) have entered a bizarre universe that Yogi Berra conversely predicted. Instead of "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded!" we now have "Everybody is going there. It's so desolate!"

[rkelty]

I happened to go to college at Hobart and William Smith, so spent 4 great years in Geneva, and I think it is a perfectly nice place to live in the area. Yes, there there probably more unemployment and crime in Geneva than some other closer by towns, but Geneva is technically a city, so much larger than Penn Yan or other nearby towns. Anytime you live in a 'college' town there are going to be issues between the community adn the college, but I think in general HWS and Geneva have a good enough relationship.

Muggy is right though, it depends on your prefrences. Geneva or Canaduagia are good if you want to be close to stores, Thurway, etc. Pittsford is a bit further away (closer to Rochester) but a great town, with good schools and a quint atmosphere. Did see your previous posts, but caught something about East Aurora - Pittsford is simmilar in a lot of ways, I grew up in East Aurora and would move back in a second if I ever had the chance!

Good Luck!

[I'minformed2]

Pittsford isn't really "finger lakes". It's more of an affluent suburb of Rochester in a hilly setting.

[aquaecny]

Originally Posted by Phish Head

I've never lived upstate, but I lived a few miles outside the area. If you are open to the eastern part of the state, I'm looking pretty hard at the Glens Falls area.

Lake George/Glens Falls is really nice! Queensbury Schools and Glens Falls/South Glens Falls are good school districts there as well. I grew up in Saratoga area very close to there. I do miss it so much! I miss that and the Syracuse area (Liverpool/Baldwinsville).

[jeryme]

I see you are both teachers. What can you tell me about the school districts in the Finger Lakes? I am looking for jobs in NY for next fall with only 5 years of teaching experience in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. I have done some bicycle touring in the area and planned on applying to districts in the towns I have been through. I am currently working on apps for Geneva, Trumansburg, Ithaca, Watkins Glen, Cortland and Auburn. Oh, Oswego too. I am worried as I heard that it is very competative. Would I have an easier time applying to schools in Rochester and simply living elsewhere? I am looking for a quiet, small town almosphere. Any information would be really appreciated! Thanks.

[homeward bound]

Jeryme, we're kind of in the same boat. My wife is a highschool English teacher, I've been teaching college for 21 years. And we're INTENT on moving to the Finger Lakes/Central NY area ASAP but anxious about teaching openings (I'm gonna move from college to elementary or middle school teaching), for many of the reasons you cite. It's a great place to live, and we're determined to raise our two youngest kids there (our oldest two are gone or heading to college).

From the feedback I've seen on this forum, it much depends on
*your area of expertise/certification, with math, science, and special ed being the "hottest" areas
*whether you've got the NY State certification in hand
*whether you've got your master's in hand
*what level you'll be teaching at (with middle school jobs easier to get than elementary level jobs)
*and, of course, where you're locating/applying.

There's been much posted on this forum about exactly the towns/cities you list, so I suggest you do searches or cruise through older pages. In short, though, all the places you mention have a lot going for them. But since several are college towns, these are probably the toughest places to land a teaching job since many NY State colleges really pump out the young teachers, and some districts like to hire INexperienced teachers to save money. Also, many college faculty members (like myself, now that I think about it!) have spouses who are public school teachers, so that by itself makes it a buyer's market in terms of landing teaching jobs.

I hope this isn't discouraging. I'm sure you'll find something you'll love. Apparently a hiring boom has to happen, even with NY State's budget/tax problems, since a lot of NY State teachers are due to retire. And increasing noise about reducing their pretty lavish (by standards elsewhere) retirement benefits may prompt a lot of near-retirement teachers to retire ASAP and lock in the benefits. So there's probably a lot of reason for hope for all of us.

And I'm sure this is a great place to move to and live in. You may bump into us while biking! (I'll be the one making excuses to stop and wheeze and nap.)

I hope you'll post your expeiences, and BEST of luck!

[jeryme]

I just now figured out how to find your response. I am new on this and I've only posted once. I will definately do lots of reading on the area and I see this website is a great source! I am concerned about the fact that I don't have the NY certification in hand yet. Is it extremely difficult to obtain? I have a standard certificate for Nevada and I just sent my $100 in for the NY certification. Do I have a grace period to take the exams? I have taken several praxis exams for both Pennsylvania and Nevada, but it doesn't look as though any of them carry over. I did obtain my Pennsylvania license when I completed my undergraduate from West Chester University of PA. Will that help any?
I appreciate the response!

[skaneatelesmom]

I also went to Hobart and William Smith. That is where I discovered Skaneateles and decided to live there at some point in my life. Now I do. Geneva has come a long way since I went to school there. Yes, the downtown still feels a little seedy, but so much of Geneva is beautiful. My vote would be to check out Skaneateles, but I wouldn't say no to Geneva.

[homeward bound]

Hi, Skaneatelesmom.

Just wondering:

What made/allowed Geneva's downtown to become "a little seedy," as you describe it?

I visited there last year and noticed a real discrepancy between the generally beautiful residential neighborhoods, and the not nearly as vibrant downtown.

Are there large malls nearby that have sapped the town's commercial core? Given the town's great location, stately homes, colleges, etc., I had expected a nicer, healthier downtown.

What caused this apparent decline from what was obviously at one time (and probably for many decades) a vibrant commercial core?

And what is the pace and the prospects for real revitalization?

Thanks!