Moving to PA for Husband's Job in Bedford (Altoona, Everett: rent, low crime)

[atf2626]

We may move to PA this Fall. How is Bedford? I am a teacher and also will nanny if I cannot find a teaching position. Is there teaching positions near Bedford? Where should I look for a job? Are there good places to live near Bedford? Where can I rent a place to live? I have always lived out west. What is PA like? Thank you!

[mams1559]

Originally Posted by atf2626

We may move to PA this Fall. How is Bedford? I am a teacher and also will nanny if I cannot find a teaching position. Is there teaching positions near Bedford? Where should I look for a job? Are there good places to live near Bedford? Where can I rent a place to live? I have always lived out west. What is PA like? Thank you!

Bedford is a small, historic town located near the interchange of the PA Turnpike and Interstate 99/US Route 220 in SW Central PA and is the county seat of Bedford County. The area around Bedford is picturesque with the Allegheny Mts. to the west and farm land in the central and east parts. It has several preserved covered bridges scattered throughout the county. Blue Knob State Park is in Bedford County and offers year-round activities including hiking, skiing, etc. Shawnee State Park also offers swimming and fishing.

There are several school districts in the county, but I'm not sure if any are hiring. The two I can think of are Bedford Area SD and Chestnut Ridge SD. There are also daycare centers and preschool centers in the county. There are also distribution warehouses and manufacturing plants in the area. Check with the PA State CareerLink office in Bedford for more info on jobs. Website = www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us; (broken link) PH # = 814-632-6107.

Most areas in and around Bedford are nice places to live. They're quiet small towns with very low crime and friendly people. The further from Bedford you live, the further you'll have to drive to stores/shopping. Bedford is a rural county. But on the bright side, normally distance = drive time. Example, you live 10 mi outside the town, it would only take about 15 min to get there. You can check out the towns of Bedford, Everett, Osterburg, Fishertown just to name a few.

[bedfordresident]

Hello, I just joined this site and thought I would respond to some of your questions. We have lived in Bedford for a few years and I avidly read our local Bedford Gazette.

My husband has been a substitute teacher for a couple of years here in the Bedford school district . There are not many full -time permanent jobs available here. He looked into getting a teaching license in this state but found out that the PA Dept. of Education would not accept his credits from the out of state college that he went to. He would have to earn more credits to obtain a license Anyone with a degree (even if it's not in education) can be an "emergency" sub, which is day-to-day with no long term assignments. We have been diligently looking for other full-time work but are having a difficult time. The economy is tough and work is scarce here. For example, The Bedford Springs Resort is opening next week. They held a job fair a few weeks ago to fill 150 jobs. An estimated 1,000 people showed up to apply. My husband was interviewed but not chosen for a job.

We love Bedford. The people here are wonderful and churches are numerous. Our children are doing well here and we hope to find work soon. I assume your husband is with REI? If so, your situation is a bit different than ours and I hope, if you do have the opportunity to move here, that you will like living in a calm, quiet community.

There is surprisingly lots of culture (concerts, art shows, etc.) but not much in the way of shopping. We basically have one mass-merchandiser, Wal-Mart. The nearest mall is Logan Valley Mall in Altoona, about 30 miles away. Let me know if you have more questions.