Yo Mr. Mayor...Ask any Mohawk..
It means:

"Beyond the Pines" and generally referred to any area from Schenectady on down. It's one of those slightly indeterminate Iroqouois place names that people have translated several ways just like Oneonta which means "Up on those hills" or "the hills over there" depending on who you ask. If I can get it together enough to consult one of my notebooks, I'll type it in as it is written out in Mohawk.

I guess Beyond the Pine Plains sounds better. Since Schenectady is acxtaully a VERB in Mohowk (just about everything is, maddening I know, but that's the way the language works) it's hard to give an exact english rendering.

Schenectady is indeed a lovely place, much lovlier than Hull could ever hope to be and far less likely to sink beneath water any time soon. Surely an advantage.

Last time I checked ...in the late 1980's mind you, there were even a few places to hear some good folk music. Perhpas there are even more now. Do tell.

It also has the advantage of being NORTH of Albany but not so far north as to require fluency in French.

Being North of Albany is nice because it provides a person with relief from all those pesky drunken college students from the 75 universities that seem to be clustered in and around Albany. I exagerate, I know...but it sure seems that way at times when you see the lines of staggering, puking kids on Central Avenue waiting for a Green bus.

Schenectady rocks.

It is also almost exactly half-way between NYC and my Mom's house in Star Lake NY. (where one DOES need french) Good place to stop off for a bite on the great trek north.

Hey Ho Mr. Mayor! Glad to hear a shout out from Schenectady whether it is beyond them there pines, at the end of said Pines or smack dab in the middle of them Pines. AT least you're not in The Pine Barrens of NJ!

There is, however, a place called Pine Plains in Dutchess county NY. Very pretty town. Spooky cemetery too.