HOME - Jen Ringwood
I was blessed to be raised with two sisters - but I am abundandly blessed to now have NINE wonderful sisters. Words don’t exist for me to say how much I admire Jen Ringwood. She is an exceptional human being and proud to call Auburn NY HOME. Read what she has to say …
- Teresa Ringwood Hoercher
It was February 1998 when I visited Auburn for the very first time. Bob, my then-boyfriend now husband, invited me to his hometown to attend the wedding of his mother who had been a widow for over 20 years. His family quickly welcomed me and I became very fond of them. Over the next few years we would come to Auburn many times. I quickly realized Auburn as a whole welcomed me the same way his family had with open arms and the promise of a future.
Fast forward ten years to 2008. Bob and I were now happily married living in Kingston, New York with two children and a third on the way, but I knew something was missing. I had lived in several different places by this time, however none of them felt like home. This drew me to suggest we look to relocated to Auburn permanently and I have NEVER regretted that decision. Auburn is a wonderful place to raise a young family.
Why this is the case is a question I’ve been asked many times over the last 13 years. The answer is simple. Auburn simply feels like home. But why this is the case is a bit more complicated. Yes, we are blessed to be surrounded by family and as we raise ours this is a great joy, but there is more to it than that. I love all the area has to offer. Being situated in the Fingerlakes Region we have beautiful lakes to enjoy whether it’s paddle boarding on Owasco or picnicking on Skaneateles. Where else could we be within an hour of wine country, gorges full of raging waterfalls, brilliant theater productions, so much history or beaches of breathtaking beauty?
Enjoying the four seasons each with their own unique attributes makes Auburn an amazing place to reside. We are fortunate to live near Hoopes Park, which in the winter resembles a Thomas Kincaid portrait from a long time ago. My children have spent many winter days at the Casey Park skating rink, building snowmen in our yard or sledding at the high school. The warmth of Spring brought us to many playgrounds dispersed throughout the city and to the annual Easter egg hunt. Summers are meant for days on the lake and outdoor meals at the many amazing restaurants we are lucky to have. Fall wouldn’t be complete without walks through Cayuga Community College’s Nature Trail, pumpkin carving at the Agricultural Museum or trick or treating in Auburn neighborhoods. I never felt we had to search for something to do because there was always a plethora of activity to be had.
After thirteen years in Auburn I’ve seen my children grow from active toddlers to independent teenagers in an ever-evolving, diverse community. We’ve all made great friends we’ll have for a lifetime. It is no wonder to me that so many people born and raised in Auburn decide to raise their own families here. I am so happy to call the Auburn-area home.
-Jen Ringwood